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A Personal Note: 
Great news! For months, we've been trying to arrange a visit by a Tanzanian priest to the Vision Complex orphanage and primary school in Bunda, Tanzania. Finally, on January 22, Fr. Ephraim and Catechist Leonard from the Cathedral in Mwanza, Tanzania were able to come and explain the Orthodox Liturgy to the students! Simon who heads Vision Complex had to be away, so the Liturgy was held at Sunray Secondary School, led by Simon's friend Jackson (in the striped shirt), just a few minutes away.
Here's Fr. Ephraim conducting a Liturgy for the Catechumens for the students at Sunray School, and Jackson (wearing the red shawl). Simon came back to Bunda later that day and was able to meet with Fr. Ephraim and Leonard. We thank God for this wonderful event finally taking place! And we thank Him also for the leaders of both schools to be able to get aquainted with these visitors from Mwanza!
I'm also extremely thankful that my wife Cheryl is recovering well from her two spinal fusion surgeries, in Dec. 2004 and May 2005. She still has a fair amount of pain, but it's nothing like when she broke each vertebra requiring each surgery. So please continue praying for her complete, pain-free recovery. Thanks in advance!
Here's our next free online course: (click →) Course 400, "Care for Patients with Various Conditions" - deadline to enroll: 22 Feb. 2026 (← click). So enroll today, before you forget! And check out all of our free literature, e-books, and booklets!
SYNOPSIS: Toldrick Griffin Jr. was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for the murder of Sha'Coria Hamilton and her unborn baby. Griffin pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and one count of felonious assault. The motive for the killing was reportedly Griffin's objection to Hamilton considering an abortion.
Griffin will be eligible for parole after 36 years. The article highlights the legal differences in Ohio regarding abortion and the killing of a preborn child. The judge, Roger Binette, stated that Griffin's actions resulted in the death of both mother and child. Hamilton's mother, Marshander Hamilton, plans annual "Stop the Violence" events in her daughter's memory.
Pray that God will have mercy on the soul of Sha'Coria Hamilton and her unborn baby, and also on Toldrick Griffin Jr. that he will truly repent and receive God's mercy.
SYNOPSIS: The European Evangelical Alliance (EEA) issued a statement condemning attacks on Ukraine. The EEA expresses "deep sorrow and grave concern" over the attacks, especially those targeting civilians and infrastructure during winter. The EEA believes these attacks violate international law and moral principles, contradicting the Gospel.
The EEA rejects any attempt to use Christian faith to legitimize violence and condemns Russia's actions. The EEA calls on governments, international institutions, and Christian communities to support Ukraine. They urge humanitarian aid and advocate for a just and lasting peace. The article also features recent news updates about the war and related religious events.
Greek Archbishop Elpidophoros in the U.S. reminds us what Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew repeatedly stated: that the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church has become an instrument to “promote the secular, military, political, and financial interests of the Russian state.” Pray for Ukraine's deliverance from Russian aggression.
SYNOPSIS: This article explains that pregnancy is a blessing, contrasting it with the view of it as a "sexually transmitted disease." promoted by those who support abortion. The author criticizes those who support abortion, pointing out their use of clever rhetoric and false science to justify the practice. The article highlights the existence of doctors who treat both the mother and the unborn child as patients, in opposition to abortion.
It points out the financial disparity between organizations that support abortion (like Planned Parenthood) and those that offer alternatives. The author criticizes both Democrats and Republicans, suggesting they are not doing enough to protect the unborn. The piece contrasts the perspective of Willard Cates Jr. (who made a negative statement about pregnancy) with the positive view of Saint John Paul II.
Intercede for all the expecting mothers who have been indoctrinated to think that pregnancy is a disease or sickness that must be gotten rid of, rather than being co-creators of new life together with God.
SYNOPSIS: NBCUniversal is enhancing accessibility for its 2026 Winter Olympics coverage. All events on NBCUniversal properties and the Peacock show, Gold Zone, will feature closed captioning. Closed captioning will also be available on digital livestreams on Peacock, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app.
NBC is also increasing its use of audio description for viewers who are blind or have low vision. Audio description will be provided by NBC Sports’ Paralympic broadcast team on NBC and Gold Zone in stereo. Improvements on digital platforms include keyboard navigation, color contrast, and screen reader support. Amy Rosenfeld stated that NBC is committed to providing greater accessibility to the Winter Olympics.
Thank the Lord for this positive use of technology that will make Olympic coverage more accessible for people who have limited ability to hear normally. I know personally what that's like.
SYNOPSIS: (Click to watch the video!) The article, provided by Dow Jones, discusses the looming "caregiving desert" in the U.S. due to an ageing population, declining birth rates, and insufficient care infrastructure. The current caregiving system is failing due to a lack of resources, a shortage of direct-care workers, and the reliance on unpaid family caregivers.
The article highlights the economic and social burdens faced by family caregivers, including financial losses and the performance of complex medical tasks with little training or compensation. The author, Neal K. Shah, argues for treating caregiving as essential infrastructure, advocating for federal investment, workforce development, and support for both paid and unpaid caregivers. The proposed solutions include building a national caregiving workforce pipeline, funding home-based care, and using technology to augment human care.
Pray for Christians to study our courses, get prepared for and involved in providing for the huge tsunami of ageing people who will need home healtcare, nursing home, and hospital care in the soon-coming years.
SYNOPSIS: We stand at a remarkable crossroads in human history where two powerful forces - rapid technological advancement and unprecedented population ageing - converge to create both extraordinary challenges and transformative opportunities. Across the globe, people are living longer than ever before, yet too often our environments, products, and services remain designed for younger, non-disabled users.
Enter gerontechnology: an interdisciplinary field that refuses to accept ageing and disability as barriers to full participation in life. Rather than viewing older adults and people with disabilities as passive recipients of care, gerontechnology recognizes them as active agents whose diverse needs and preferences should drive innovation. Technology is building a future where growing older doesn't mean growing disconnected, dependent, or diminished.
Thank God for technological advances, and pray that they will be used in caring, responsible ways that connect elderly people to the whole human community.
(Click the pic!) Last week I wrote a short article about Saint Benedict of Nursia and his rule for Christian communities, The Rule of St. Benedict. Click on the photo, and you'll see a whole list of literature – mostly free e-books and booklets – on this topic of how to build Christian communities. In addition to St. Benedict's Rule, you'll see Rod Dreher's book, The Benedict Option. Then in the section about Leah Libresco's book Building the Benedict Option it states: "This practical resource for finding peace, meaning and God, from the pen of St. Benedict, a sixth-century monk, can help guide your own spiritual journey. Many people today are realizing that the cultural focus on competition, success, acquisition and constant busyness is ultimately not satisfying. They hunger for a way of life that has more lasting value and deeper meaning."
See the article "Building the New City – St. Basil's Social Vision", my booklet "Seek the Welfare of the City" and my article "Building the ARC", as well as several other books from my personal library. The article "Seek the Welfare of the City" cites instances of various Saints warning about not giving money, goods, or services unless you are able to ascertain that your donations are actually being used as you were told they would be. We are challenged by 1 John 3:17 – "But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him?" to be generous to those in need. But look carefully at the phrase "sees his brother in need" – if you can't actually see what the need is and how it will be met, then beware! It is likely that it would be misused.
Also, 2 Thes. 3:10 – "If anyone is not willing to work, neither let him eat." If those who appear to be needy refuse to work when they are able to, they should not depend on Christians or the state to feed and house them. The goal should be restoration to full physical, vocational, and spiritual health. "Community" is key: a community is a group of people who share the same value system, a group that is not so large that it's impossible to know all the members personally. Otherwise, on a city- or state- or nation-wide level it's too easy for people to "work the system."
Please read "Learning From Minnesota’s Somali Fraud Scandal." Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman stated that unlimited immigration is incompatible with a welfare state. Plato wrote – "Democracy can only survive until the people find their way to the public purse." I've worked as a job counselor in both secular and religious social service sectors: several times I've been told by people wanting help to write resumes that they just need to fill out and submit two job applications to show that "they're looking for work" so they can continue getting welfare checks. And I learned of at least two cases where jobless people were receiving unemployment benefits from two states: they would travel to a friend's place in a nearby state at whose address they'd register for benefits – "double dipping." Welfare fraud is rampant!
The Greek word for "community" is "koinonia" – it's also translated as "communion" as in the Eucharist, and as "fellowship" as in "church." So a group of like-minded genuine, honest Christians who are fully committed to serving Christ, can also build a place where they can live, worship, and serve in a community: "Commitment to Communion in a Community." That is what our Agape Restoration Communities are all about. so please take a few minutes to read my "Building the ARC" article... and share it!
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Please remember to pray for Christians in Secularized Countries, and for...
Your fellow-servants,
Bob & Cheryl
p.s. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift: that's why we call it "the present"!