Stewart remembered

Thurman Edward Stewart, 86, died Dec. 18, 2022. A founder of Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief forty years ago, he is remembered for his service in childcare. Stewart had a bachelor’s degree, three masters, and a Ph.D. in Physics. Prior to entering Midwestern Seminary to earn a Master of Divinity, Stewart taught physics at Tenn. State University. He also served as a minister in Hettick where in 1978 he married his wife, Carol, who survives him.

Stewart was preceded in death by one daughter. He is survived by another daughter, and three grandchildren, among other relatives. Thurman and Carol were members of Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church in Jacksonville.

Where persecution grows

North Korea earned its highest-ever persecution score in the 30th World Watch List (WWL) on treatment of Christians. The score reflects increased arrests and house churches closed. Arrest usually means execution or life in prison facing starvation, torture, and sexual violence.

Escaped prisoner Timothy Cho said the regime’s “aim is to wipe out every Christian in the country.”

North Korea is followed by Somalia, Yemen, Eritrea, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Sudan, and India. Five of the countries are in Africa due to rise in Islamic terror. “The whole region is heading into catastrophe,” WWL reported.

Christians lead Congress

The percentage of Christians in the 118th U.S. Congress is almost unchanged since the 1970s, in sharp contrast to the decline in American adults who identify as Christian. Of 534 members, 469 say they are Christian. That’s 91%, compared to 63% of the general population.

There are 303 Protestants and 148 Catholics; 9 are Mormon, 8 Orthodox, 33 Jewish, 13 other, and 20 don’t know or refused to answer. Among the Protestants, 67 identified as Baptist, and Baptist Press reported 20 of them were SBC, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy who is a member of Valley Baptist Church in Bakersfield, Calif.