Gunman targeted school — wounding 2 kindergartners — because of its church affiliation, authorities believe



Authorities told the New York Times they believe a gunman targeted a northern California school Wednesday — wounding two kindergartners — because of the school's affiliation with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The shooting victims — two boys, ages 5 and 6 — are now in "critical but stable condition," the Butte County Sheriff's Office told KOVR-TV in a Thursday report. The suspect was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the sheriff's office added to the station. A California Highway Patrol officer found a handgun next to the suspect, KOVR noted.

A 6th-grade student said she helped her teacher comfort younger students as the gunman was outside the classroom.

The shooting happened around 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in Palermo, authorities told the station.

The Times said authorities did not provide more information about why the gunman wanted to target the Seventh-day Adventists, but the paper added that Sheriff Kory Honea said it was believed to be an isolated incident.

While authorities weren't aware of any prior threats the gunman made against the school or other schools connected with the Seventh-day Adventists, the Times said neighboring communities were alerted about the possible motive, and police were dispatched to other schools affiliated with the church.

What else do we know?

The two shooting victims were taken to a Sacramento-area hospital and were in "extremely critical condition," Honea said Wednesday, according to KOVR.

While they were in "critical but stable" condition Thursday, the station said the two students are continuing to received treatment at a local hospital.

The sheriff's office told KOVR the suspect has been positively identified, but his name has not been released. Deputies said they don't believe there is any connection between the suspect and the victims, the station said.

Honea added to KOVR that investigators are looking into a "story" that the suspect called a few days prior to the shooting to schedule a Wednesday appointment at the school with an administrator. The station said reports indicate the suspect showed up trying to enroll a child, but deputies don't believe a child was with him.

After the Wednesday meeting with the administrator, gunshots were heard, Honea told KOVR. A 6th-grade student said she helped her teacher comfort younger students as the gunman was outside the classroom, the station said.

The school serves about 35 students from kindergarten to eighth grade, KOVR said, adding that Honea indicated no security officer was stationed at the school, and that's not part of the school's everyday routine.

Students were taken to the gymnasium until authorities could bring school buses to the scene, the station said, adding that they were taken to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene where they were reunited with their families.

Honea also told KOVR an Uber driver dropped off the suspect at the school, and investigators are interviewing the driver to learn more information about what may have transpired before and during the ride.

More from the station:

The shooting appears to be isolated to the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists, but Honea said he provided other law enforcement agencies in California with information to be vigilant when it comes to Seventh-Day Adventist schools as it appears the school may have been targeted due to its affiliation.

The Times said Elizabeth Lepe Arredondo — a former teacher at the school whose children were also students — described Feather River as a beautiful school “out in the open country" with a strong sense of community and values deeply rooted in the teachings of Seventh-day Adventist Church.

KOVR described Palermo as a town populated by more than 5,000 people and situated just south of Oroville, about 30 miles south of Chico, and 65 miles north of Sacramento.

You can view a video report here about the shooting.

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‘Sign Of Great Hope’: Religious Leaders See A ‘Fourth Great Awakening’ As Americans Flock To Christianity

'Sign of great hope for the nation'

Oh, happy day! Trump’s victory restores faith and fire



About a week before Election Day on November 5, my wife and I participated in early voting. After filling out our ballots and placing them into the machine, I noticed the name on the side of the box belonged to a company that had sparked concerns during previous elections.

I turned to the attendant and asked, “Did our ballots get processed properly?” She laughed and replied, “Yes, everything is good. But if you’re worried, you can always come back tomorrow and vote again.” I shook my head and said, “No, we can’t. We’re Republicans.”

Remember that the deep state remains entrenched, so men and women of good will still need to keep up the fight through Inauguration Day.

A week later, we learned that everything had indeed worked as it should. While New York State, where we voted, predictably turned blue, Donald J. Trump secured an impressive number of electoral votes and won the popular vote by a healthy margin.

To borrow the title of an old gospel song: “Oh, Happy Day!”

However ...

Many of us on the right have friends and family members on the left who struggle to cope with Trump’s election victory. Some have chosen to shun us simply because our candidate delivered a resounding win on election night. They had fully expected a different outcome. After all the impeachments, slander, Justice Department weaponization, assassination attempts, and the $1 billion Democrats poured into campaigning against him, they were certain Trump’s defeat was inevitable, and his goose was properly cooked.

The Democrats threw everything at him, yet nothing stuck. For many of us, Trump’s victory wasn’t about him being “Teflon Don” but rather a sign that God isn’t done with America. It seems the Almighty intends to use Trump to steer this nation back toward righteousness. Proverbs 14:34 comes to mind: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.”

This victory was a collective effort. Whether people fasted and prayed earnestly or engaged politically as awakened citizens, everyone played a role — from "the greatest to the least." Across the country, the battle raged. Key figures like Tulsi Gabbard, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Elon Musk, and Vivek Ramaswamy hit the campaign trail to support the Trump-Vance ticket. Influential voices on X.com, such as Jack Posobiec and even the satirical account Catturd, added to the momentum. Together, they rocked the deeply entrenched deep state until the giant refrigerator toppled over with a mighty crash.

Kamala Harris proved to be the worst candidate in at least half a century, projecting an even less favorable image than Michael Dukakis riding in a tank. Her candidacy floundered under its own weight, but Joe Biden’s influence didn’t help either.

Biden, battling the effects of senility, repeatedly undermined the Harris-Walz campaign. He appeared to emerge from his fog at the worst moments, throwing shade on the ticket. The image of Biden in a MAGA hat, paired with his habit of rambling incoherently like an out-of-control Slip ’n Slide, further eroded the Democrats’ credibility on a near-daily basis.

But the last-minute awakening of the church cannot be overstated.

The Democrats’ allegiance was unmistakable throughout the campaign, and it became painfully clear during a Harris rally in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in mid-October. When two pro-lifers shouted, “Jesus is Lord!” and “Christ is King!” from the crowd, Kamala’s knee-jerk reaction was to dismiss them, saying, “You’re at the wrong rally!” One wonders what David French and the “Evangelicals for Harris” crowd would have to say about that.

Scripture encourages Christians with the words, “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Perhaps, the Great Political Awakening has helped to allay a heavenly judgment on this country.

One must also be reminded of the Prodigal Son, specifically, the verse that tells us “when he came to his senses.” It is as if the church writ large, Catholics and Protestants alike, came to its senses and congregants rose out of their pews and poured into the voting booths. The religious faithful could no longer be oblivious to the evil of a runaway government — the destruction of our society and culture had become all too palpable, something I point out clearly in my book “Obvious: Seeing the Evil That’s in Plain Sight and Doing Something About It.”

So now something has been done about “the evil in plain sight,” but it is only the beginning. We must not return to a state of slumber. America’s “Happy Day” is still quite a number of years down the road.

Remember that the deep state remains entrenched, so men and women of good will still need to keep up the fight-fight-fight right on through Inauguration Day. President Trump’s triumphant return to the White House is just the beginning of the long, hard road to uprooting a bloated bureaucratic regime and returning America to the glorious constitutional republic we were always meant to be.

Pastor ignites backlash by shaming black Trump supporters as 'ignorant stupid Negroes,' says Trump will make them slaves



An Alabama pastor has ignited backlash by demeaning black Trump supporters as "ignorant stupid Negroes" and hinting that former President Donald Trump will make them slaves when he gets back into the White House.

Pastor Michael R. Jordan of the New Era Baptist Church in Birmingham posted the incendiary messages on the church's sign.

Jordan plans to leave the message up outside his church through the inauguration.

Jordan had the following message on the church's sign: “Warning African Americans: A vote for Trump will put blacks back to picking cotton.”

The other side of the sign reads: “Attention to all blacks who plan to vote for Trump: You are an ignorant stupid Negro.”

The controversial sign sparked outrage.

Alabama's Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth — a Republican — said of the sign, "Churches are supposed to spread the Gospel, offer messages of God’s love, and share the life of Christ, not threaten, intimidate, and insult those who exercise their right to vote and support the candidate that is best for them. Those responsible for this sign should be ashamed."

When Jordan was asked if his controversial style might hurt his church, he told WVTM-TV, “No, they know point-blank it's an ear-catcher.”

Jordan added, "He's thinking from a Republican point of view. Donald Trump is making sad, pitiful negative statements about people every day."

Jordan plans to leave the message up outside his church through the inauguration.

During his 32-year tenure at the New Era Baptist Church, the pastor has had a history of making inflammatory statements on his church's sign.

In 2019, he displayed a sign that read: “A white vote for Trump is pure racism.”

Alabama.com noted that Jordan attacked the Church of the Highlands in 2018 for planning to launch a church in a predominantly black neighborhood by calling it a “slavemaster” church.

In 2017, he posted a message that said: “Trump deceived poor white folks.”

In 2004, Jordan's church had a sign that read: “AIDS is God’s curse on homosexuals.”

According to the Christian Post, Jordan said, “This is my ministry. This is my calling. Pastor, white or black, is a watchman. I’m going to take a stand.”

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Pastors called to action: Ignite the faith vote, save the nation



Amid political division and societal unrest, the faith community must be a beacon of hope and unity. The National Faith Advisory Board recognizes the vital role of faith leaders, especially pastors, in shaping the nation's moral and ethical fabric. Through today’s inaugural National Faith Summit and its commitment to empowering pastors, the NFAB aims to unite and mobilize the faith community to speak with one strong voice in the political arena.

Recent studies reveal a concerning trend: 104 million people of faith, including a significant number of Christian churchgoers, are likely to abstain from voting in the upcoming election. This apathy is not insurmountable, however, and the voice of the faithful need not be lost. Research shows that millions of these individuals would be motivated to vote if their pastors encouraged them. This underscores the immense influence that pastors wield and the potential they have to sway the course of the election — and therefore lead America back to righteousness.

Now is the time for pastors to stand boldly where faith intersects with civic responsibility, leading congregations from the pulpit to the polls.

Dr. George Barna, director of research at Arizona Christian University, sums it up well:

Pastors often seek opportunities to have a positive influence in people’s lives and upon the culture and to help the community in which their church is located. This research underscores the fact that simply encouraging people to vote in order to fulfill their biblical responsibility would not only be seen as doing their job while helping the community, but an estimated 5 million regular churchgoers would be likely to vote as a result of that simple exhortation.

Pastors, as spiritual leaders, can bridge faith and civic duty by addressing policy issues through moral and ethical perspectives. This guidance helps congregations make decisions rooted in biblical values. The NFAB supports over 32,000 faith leaders, equipping pastors with resources to engage their congregations on critical issues.

Now is the time for pastors to stand boldly where faith intersects with civic responsibility, leading congregations from the pulpit to the polls. With a strong moral foundation, pastors can inspire believers to make choices that honor God's Word and transform the nation. The National Faith Advisory Board provides over 32,000 faith leaders with the tools to rally congregations on the issues that matter most.

The National Faith Summit in Atlanta, hosted by the NFAB, will gather more than 1,000 pastors committed to defending life, promoting national strength, upholding family values, and protecting religious freedom. President Donald J. Trump will also attend, emphasizing the faith community's role in shaping the nation’s future and reflecting on his administration’s collaboration with the church.

The Pastor's Bill of Rights, a key component of the NFAB's platform, will be shared with faith leaders at the summit. Many pastors feel apprehensive or fearful about discussing policy from the pulpit, so we aim to empower them by reminding them of their fundamental freedoms and protections. These rights include freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, freedom from discrimination, and protection from unwarranted government intrusion. By advocating these rights, the NFAB ensures that pastors can exercise their faith and guide their congregations without fear of persecution.

As our nation faces mounting challenges, the faith community stands as the last line of defense — a powerful force ready to change history. United under shared values and unwavering biblical truth, we hold the strength to make a profound, lasting impact on America’s soul. The National Faith Summit marks a defining moment — a call to action empowering thousands to restore and protect our beloved nation. Now is the time to rise together, to draw strength from unity, and to launch a movement that will preserve America for generations to come.

California's nightmare policies are creeping into Florida's votes



“We cannot go to church and pray like Christians, then vote like atheists,” Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez told a crowd of rally-goers on Monday.

She was referring to Amendments 3 and 4 in Florida. A University of North Florida poll released this week shows that a ballot measure to legalize weed and a constitutional amendment to ratify baby killing on demand are on track to pass, even with a 60% threshold.

The once-dominant voting bloc in the Republican Party has become an ineffective presence, much like churches that fail to emphasize true discipleship.

The national implications of this are huge. We’re talking about a state that is a must-win for the presidency and that until recently was maddeningly purple. Democrats aren’t even campaigning in the Sunshine State, thanks to the dominance Republicans have built under Gov. Ron DeSantis. It’s incredible to think about. After DeSantis narrowly beat a candidate caught in a scandal involving cocaine and a male escort, who would have believed such dominance was possible?

Yet, here we are.

Remember how DeSantis embarrassed California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a debate last November, highlighting the infamous “poop maps” in San Francisco? Just 11 months later, the same Florida voters who witnessed that are now essentially supporting Newsom’s policies, even after they overwhelmingly re-elected DeSantis in 2022.

Houston, we have a problem — a people problem.

Even Disney opposes Amendment 3, a.k.a. the Stoner Amendment, aligning with DeSantis. Together, Florida’s most influential corporate brand and its most popular politician warn that turning “It’s a High World After All” into a theme park ride is a terrible idea. Despite this, the amendment might still pass with 60% of the vote or better.

If these two amendments pass, they will have massive repercussions for social conservatism. The number of politicians willing to advocate our causes will likely dwindle, and we may need to entirely rethink our approach to activism.

The once-dominant voting bloc in the Republican Party for generations has become just the type of ineffective and inconsequential presence not unlike churches that fail to emphasize true discipleship. Our influence has diminished, and making stupid excuses like “it’s all because Roe was overturned” will make things worse.

Decades of grifty, rudderless, gutless leadership in the Republican Party, the church, and the pro-life movement are coming home to roost. And I’m not sure what to do about that no matter who wins next month. We might need to redefine our role as a prophetic witness in a negative world where we no longer hold influence and GOP politicians can secure wins without us.

Trump, of all people, seems to be trying harder than many in the church to help us avoid such a fate as he called on Christians this week to lead the way in taking their country back. Meanwhile, the seeker-sensitive pastor who refuses to acknowledge the drag queen story hour molesting kids across the street won’t cut it anymore. And that also goes for the anon master of piety on X who will happily watch the world burn as he gives himself a helmet sticker for never getting his hands dirty in something called “reality.”

So many of us have sold our birthright for the cheapest of lies and comforts. Will our culture’s fate truly be no different in the end than one founded by atheists? May it not be too late to redeem the time for our children after so many opportunities were left wasted and so many idols were polished until they blinded us from who we are called to be as citizens.

Alexis de Tocqueville said America “is great because it is good.” Our forefathers held up their end of the bargain on that front in the face of great hardship and evil in the past. But is he finally wrong about us?

Pray not.

Don’t Fall For Her Church Photo Ops. Kamala Hates Christians

Harris’ church schtick is richer than Nancy Pelosi’s investment portfolio, considering the former's braggadocios history of hostility toward Christians.

How left-wing billionaires INFECTED Christianity to suppress the religious vote



In a shocking survey by the Barna Group, it’s been revealed that 32 million church-attending Christians are planning to sit this election out and not show up at the ballot box.

“There’s a really important data point in that Barna research, and it’s that it’s not just Christians that are sitting out, it is regular churchgoers, so it’s not just the people who culturally identify as Christians,” bestselling author and Daily Wire reporter Megan Basham tells Liz Wheeler of “The Liz Wheeler Show.”

But why is it happening?

“One, obviously, we have to acknowledge the abortion issue. I think the Republican Party’s conflicting messaging on this cycle has depressed enthusiasm a little bit,” Basham explains.


“But, there’s also something else that I think is more significant going on and that is the fact that a lot of this voter suppression, lack of enthusiasm, has been deliberately orchestrated by left secular foundations and billionaires,” she continues.

Basham believes “they have been working for the last few years to try to convince Christians, ‘Hey, you don’t need to vote. It’s not important that you play a part in the political process. In fact, it could be political idolatry.’”

One example is a Bible study curriculum called “The Afterparty,” which was created by David French, the editor in chief of Christianity Today, and a Democrat Party Duke Divinity professor.

“All three never-Trumpers, two of whom are supporting Kamala Harris openly,” Basham says. “They created this supposed political Bible study curriculum to go into conservative churches, conservative college campuses. There was an effort to get it on 185 conservative college campuses, and it teaches Christians that politics are really complex.”

“‘It’s not always clear who you should vote for, and what we really need to do is turn down the rhetoric, and, in fact, we don’t know how we should vote except on the issue of alleged racial injustice,’” she says, giving an example.

“It makes it pretty clear when you read the curriculum who they want you to vote for, and that curriculum is exclusively funded by hard left secular foundations, Rockefeller philanthropy advisers, and the Hewlett Foundation, which also backed Planned Parenthood and transgender initiatives for youth and things of that nature,” Basham explains, adding, “These are not Christians, and they are funding these kind of operations in order to, I would say, really suppress that Christian vote.”

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Fearful pastors put comfort over conviction in critical times



I received a note from a viewer who said she works at a church in a state with an abortion amendment on the ballot this November. She asked her campus pastor if “vote no” could be put on the church property along with handing out info to church members.

An initial “yes” became a disheartening “no” after two weeks when the church’s executive pastor — the other pastor’s boss — got involved and said “the lost” might be dissuaded from visiting the church because of the signs and that, in the name of good ol’ meek and mild Jesus, they had to come down.

With biblical teaching so clear, how does the modern church fail so spectacularly in the face of growing evil?

Wow. That, my friends, is some impressive horse manure. The signs were not offensive in any way. They didn’t endorse any candidate or party. They didn’t even threaten the church’s tax-exempt status. They just didn’t come with a pair of free khakis or a sweater vest, I guess.

Which leaves me convinced that some people who claim the name of Christ will one day be loaded onto trains heading to the death camps and still bleat, “Don’t talk about the gospel around the guards because it might offend them.” Cowardice is a food group now.

But wait: Who does the Bible say is cast into the lake of fire first? Oops. I’ll give you a hint ...

It’s cowards.

This is why the devil is shooting at Donald Trump and not our pastors. Because for all his frailties and brokenness, he is much more of a threat to hell than an overwhelming majority of the men in our pulpits.

But don’t take my word for it. I know a lot of you think I’m just a grifter and a sellout now for reminding you of such things, so how about you try the prophet Ezekiel on for size:

And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: 'Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, "You shall surely die," and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.'

With biblical teaching so clear, why does the modern church fail so spectacularly in the face of growing evil? To justify its cowardice, much of the church today has inverted the two greatest commandments that sum up the law and the prophets. No. 1: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. No. 2: Love your neighbor as yourself.

What happens when love your neighbor as you love yourself becomes the greatest commandment? God takes a back seat.

This is how the devil always works: He perverts good things until they become unrecognizable. It’s the same as the serpent’s “Did God really say?” in the garden, now applied to the gospel. By inverting it, the very people the gospel is meant to save ultimately become the ones who destroy it.

And it’s no coincidence that the inversion of the two greatest commandments also provides the means to live a nice, comfortable life as a pastor in the suburbs. No one really wants to arrest them. They don’t offend anybody. They tickle your ears and offer you something barely distinguishable from “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” So instead of disciples, we have churches full of mere customers and fans.

These are not hospitals for sinners in need of salvation and discipling. They are corporations with Bible verses where the customer is always right.

In short, these are death traps. They are roads to hell, whether they have crosses out front and stained-glass windows or not. You should leave them. For God will not be mocked.

Staying Out Of Politics Is Not The Moral High Ground Some Christians Think It Is

The church’s silence on politically controversial issues, although well-meaning, is causing theological confusion among its own members.