In a place where an act as simple as reading the Quran can be an act of defiance, the Taliban has banned women from hearing other women's voices in its latest attempt to impose their version of Islamic law on Afghanistan, including mandating that women refrain from performing Takbir—an Islamic expression of faith—and from reciting the Quran aloud, even in the presence of other women.

The UN and Amnesty have stated that the oppression of Afghan women, made prisoners in their homes, unable to speak, has erased women from all spheres of life. Girls born in the 20 years free of Taliban rule went to school and learned of their mothers' experience of repression, only to lose the ability to attend school with the Taliban's return in 2021. Women lost their ability to work, learn, travel alone, or receive healthcare and became "faceless, voiceless shadows" in a brutal apartheid against women.

What makes the Taliban's ideology so uniquely repressive of women?

"What sets the Taliban apart from other Islamic groups," Moheq added, "are the tribal codes of Afghanistan also embedded in the Taliban's ideology." A fundamental part of the tribal codes is defining a narrow place for women: They exists as the property of men and for the honor of men. For example, Moheq explained, "the rape of a woman is not seen as wrong because she was raped, but because she represents the honor of a man," and that is what was violated.

The Taliban's ideology was strong enough to draw manpower from the country's tribal areas for long enough to outlast the United States and the Western-backed government in Kabul. In return, as the primary manpower of the Taliban comes from tribal areas of the country, they further reinforce the Taliban's conservative culture, including the continued exclusion of women.

Among more than 7,500 Afghans living in the country with access to mobile and internet services, the survey found, 66% said they agreed or strongly agreed that human rights for women were a top priority for the future of Afghanistan. Nearly half, or 45% of those, strongly supported the Taliban's control of the country.

Strike-friendly games from the NYT tech guild "New York Times tech workers are still on strike after walking out one day before the presidential election. That means they're still asking people to skip their usual Crossword, Wordle, or Connections routines. But now, the union has released its own offerings for games lovers that could keep them from crossing the digital picket line." - Fast Company

In addition to games like Strikle and Strikeman, they're also sharing recipes like We've Got Beef With Management Stuffed Mushrooms and Solidarity Soup.

Did a mega drought topple empires 4,200 years ago? is an article by Michael Marshall in Nature [archive link] about the debate around the 4.2-Kiloyear Event, which was possibly a major shift in global climate patterns that started around 2200 BCE. The effects were especially stark in the Fertile Crescent, where social complexity decreased markedly, empires fell, and cities were abandoned, as recounted in the video essay The First Bronze Age Collapse and the Intermediate Bronze Age. If you want more granular detail, best known archaeological site for this period has a good website with lots of information, The Tell Leilan Project.

I am devastated by the results of this election. I live in a red state, which I love, and I am surrounded by people I love who voted for Trump. I have given up trying to understand it. These people are my community. I truly believe they are good, kind, thoughtful people, and they voted for someone who is promising to do a lot of harm to other good, kind people. Any advice for coping? I can't cut them off, they are friends and family. Help.

I'm a 40F who upon hearing the election results this week, felt a surge a gratitude about being a spinster. I figure there has to be articles, books, or some type of literature made by fellow spinsters throughout history about their experiences.

I'm a 40F who upon hearing the election results this week, felt a surge a gratitude about having no kids or a male partner. I of course have been on this path for years, mostly due to my total disinterest in dating and or sex. (I didn't realize I was a OG member of the 4B Movement.)
The choice to forego the things that many women consider their purpose in life does make you feel like the weird one.
I figure there has to be articles, books, or some type of literature made by fellow spinsters throughout history about their experiences. It find it a 95 percent positive experience, but I'd also be curious if these ladies have also written about the drawbacks (money troubles, not being anyone's person) as well.
I'd be curious how the stigma played out then as it does now, I figure it was worse then due to not being able to get good jobs, but I know in some places, these women served as elderly caretakers. I look forward to learning more.

Looking for stuff that will make me laugh mostly. Snarky and kind reqs appreciated.

Especially interested in general or historical fiction, but I'll take whatever.

The only criteria are that it's witty and has a generally kind tone. I definitely don't want to feel worse about the world after reading.

If you can include a brief description of why you liked it, that would be useful. Thanks in advance!

"They think your existence is a scourge? Then the best way to spite them is to keep existing." Geraldine DeRuiter (previously) has written the one thing that makes me feel better about what happened. Maybe it'll help you too.

That's it. Given this terrible, horrible, no good week, I'd like to hang onto some signs of hope. They don't have to be political, anything will do.

If you're visiting MetaFilter for the first time in a while because whoa, US election, just a friendly reminder that MetaFilter depends on member support in order to keep running. Additionally, MetaFilter is moving to a community-run model, so you might want to check out the latest update about that.

But because this is a weblog, a few additional links about communities below the fold.

Online communities come with real-world consequences for individuals and societies (Communications Psychology; the bibliography is fun)

How to find your community (Vox)

How to find healthy online communities (Mental Health America)

(Nostalgia trip) Online communities (Pew Research, 2001)

And more nostalgia - the classic 1995 Ghosts in the Machine

Forget about Hendrix, Beck, Clapton, Page and Van Halen; we want to highlight the guitarists who have made an impact outside of the usual rock'n'roll axis of axes. It's a list full of invention, customs passed down through generations and a focus on rhythm as much as volume. These are the musicians who defined soukous, bossa nova and Touareg desert blues, who soundtracked revolutions and revelations, and made their traditions that little more recognisable to a global audience. These are our guitar heroes... from 50 Global Guitar Greats [Songlines]

Not in a happy place. Can already feel my mind about to launch into a worse place. Please give mental health advice suggestions for books to read, your tips for surviving (or, dare I ask, thriving) in 21st century right wing regime, pointers towards activities I can incorporate into my daily practice that bend the long arc of history toward justice.

Copyright 2018 NPR. To see more, visit RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: And we begin this hour with the latest on the CIA, Russia and President-elect Trump. To get you caught up this Monday morning, here is what unfolded over the weekend. Late on Friday, news broke that the CIA believes Russia interfered with the presidential election in order to tip it to Donald Trump. That has led a bipartisan group of senators to call for a sweeping investigation. Donald Trump is dismissing it, saying there is no hard evidence. (SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "FOX NEWS SUNDAY WITH CHRIS WALLACE") DONALD TRUMP: They have no idea if it's Russia or China or somebody. It could be somebody sitting in a bed someplace. MARTIN: And that was the president-elect speaking yesterday on Fox News. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly is here in the studio with us to talk more. Good morning, Mary Louise. MARY LOUISE KELLY, BYLINE: Good morning, Rachel. MARTIN: Let's start off by having you remind us exactly what it is the CIA is claiming. KELLY:

To glance at some of the political news this week, you'd think it was October. Clinton campaign Chairman John Podesta did Meet the Press over the weekend to talk about Russia hacking the DNC's emails. Hillary Clinton aide Brian Fallon took to Twitter on Tuesday to question the FBI's investigation into Clinton's emails. Donald Trump and Bill Clinton sniped at each other. But it's mid-December. The voters and electors alike have cast their votes. And while millions of Americans are doubtless more than happy to have Election Day well behind them, they can still plan on hearing still more about the election in the coming days or even weeks. There's good reason for some of the continuing concern over the election. The FBI and CIA alike say they are now confident Russia hacked the DNC's emails, that Putin was involved, and it was all in an attempt to influence the election in Trump's favor. That could have very real repercussions. President Obama told NPR's Steve Inskeep that Russia's

There were two major assumptions about Latino voters throughout the presidential campaign: (1) a record number of Latinos would show up on Election Day to oppose Donald Trump's candidacy and (2) the anti-immigration rhetoric that launched Trump's campaign would push conservative-leaning Hispanics to flee the Republican Party. Neither of those assumptions entirely panned out as expected. Prediction 1: The Surge? True. A record number of Latinos did vote this November. But the truth is complicated. The official national exit poll, the one commissioned by the big media organizations, suggests the Latino share of the electorate was higher than ever before — about 11 percent, compared to 10 percent in 2012. "It's very possible that the Latino vote, while reaching a record, may have been swamped by other groups of voters," said Mark Hugo Lopez, the director of Hispanic Research at the Pew Research Center, pointing to states like Florida which Trump won. We won't know the percentage of

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFYXOgXqoe4 Elections aren't exactly cozy, even in the best of times. This one, though, felt worse for a lot of people. No matter where your allegiances lie, 2016 has been the emotional equivalent of a dumpster fire. But it wasn't all unbearable. Here and there, lighter moments emerged to provide comic relief — or even a small burst of joy. Here are 10 of them, in no particular order. 1. Bill Clinton at the DNC balloon drop When the balloons fell from the rafters on the final night of the Democratic National Convention, Hillary Clinton and her running mate Tim Kaine had a lot to feel triumphant about. The Democratic Party seemed to be uniting around Clinton as its candidate. But as the Philadelphia arena filled with red, white and blue globes, no one seemed to enjoy it quite as much as Bill Clinton, who looked up with childlike wonder. 2. Trump's "Hotline Bling" Back in November 2015, when Donald Trump was still in his campaign's relative infancy, he

In November, the typically straitlaced Office of Government Ethics surprised observers with a series of tweets mimicking Donald Trump's bombastic style, exclamation points and all: "Brilliant! Divestiture is good for you, good for America!" The controversy was two-fold: (1) The OGE doesn't typically air its positions publicly, advising White House transition teams behind the scenes. (2) Trump hadn't promised the total divestitures of business interests implied by the tweets. New records shared with NPR on Friday show that behind the curious tweets was the head of the OGE himself, Director Walter Shaub Jr. In two emails, dated Nov. 30, just several minutes apart, Shaub sent to OGE Chief of Staff Shelley Finlayson the nine tweets that took the Internet by storm that day. He then followed up with a link to a legal document referenced in one of the tweets and writes: "Get all of these tweets posted as soon as humanly possible." The emails were part of a 365-page document shared with NPR in

Bernie Sanders thinks he has a pretty good idea why Hillary Clinton and Democrats lost in the 2016 election. "Look, you can't simply go around to wealthy people's homes raising money and expect to win elections," the Vermont senator, who gave Clinton a surprisingly strong run for the Democratic nomination, told NPR's David Greene in an interview airing on Morning Edition. "You've got to go out and mix it up and be with ordinary people." That picks up on a criticism of Clinton devoting too much time to fundraising — and not enough to on-the-ground campaigning in traditionally Democratic states, like Michigan and Wisconsin. In the general election, Clinton never visited Wisconsin after she became the nominee and visited Michigan late in the game. The two Upper Midwestern states swung narrowly to Trump: Wisconsin by slightly more than 20,000 votes and Michigan by slightly more than 10,000. During the primary, Sanders boasted of his small-donor donations. "The Democratic Party swallowed

Updated at 4 p.m. ET The Justice Department's watchdog has launched a sweeping review of conduct by the FBI director and other department officials before the presidential election, following calls from Congress and members of the public. Top advisers to Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton have blamed FBI Director James Comey, in part, for her loss in November. Now, federal investigators say they will examine whether public statements by Comey in July, October and November 2016 ran afoul of policies that caution officials not to influence the outcome of an election and to avoid making derogatory comments about people who haven't been formally charged with wrongdoing. Comey has previously told friends and employees that he had few good choices in the investigation into Clinton's handling of classified information on her private email server. In a statement Thursday, Comey said, "I am grateful to the Department of Justice's IG for taking on this review. He is professional and

Copyright 2018 NPR. To see more, visit RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: Presidential inaugurations are supposed to be about unity. That may be more inspirational than aspirational, rather, than anything else this year. Donald Trump will be sworn in later this morning in the wake of a divisive and ugly campaign that perhaps describes the deeply partisan era we're living in. We're hearing different perspectives on Trump's Inaugural Day this morning and one of them is that of the novelist Attica Locke. She is also a writer on the TV program "Empire," and she spoke to our own Steve Inskeep. STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: We called you up on the morning after the election. That sounded like an excruciating morning for you. ATTICA LOCKE: It was, and I can't say that things have gotten necessarily better for me. INSKEEP: What do you mean? LOCKE: I wake up every day and think, this is how much this country can't stand black people that this has happened. Or I think, this is how much this country did not want a

Updated at 9:22 p.m. ET The president has fired FBI Director James Comey, who was overseeing an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 elections and possible ties to the Trump campaign and top aides. The White House pointed to Comey's handling of the probe into Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's private email server while secretary of state as the reason for his dismissal. But Democrats were quick to call the move " Nixonian ," saying that the decision by Trump was part of an effort to impede the Justice Department's Russia investigation which, in the view of many leading Capitol Hill Democrats, could now only be managed by a special prosecutor going forward. "Today, President Donald J. Trump informed FBI Director James Comey that he has been terminated and removed from office. President Trump acted based on the clear recommendations of both Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions," White House press secretary Sean Spicer said

Washington has a big problem to solve: Can it stop cyber mischief, trolls and disinformation from becoming as much a part of American elections as yard signs, straw hats and robocalls? National security officials warn that unless the United States takes strong steps to prevent or deter meddling, foreign nations — especially Russia — won't quit. "They're going to continue to do it," former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told a Senate subcommittee on Monday. "And why not? It proved successful." Moscow has sown chaos across the West, Clapper and others say, by injecting doubt into elections in the U.S. and Europe. The problem: The breadth and diversity of what makes up "interference" is also what makes it so difficult to combat — from hackers stealing and exposing embarrassing secrets to paid social media "trolls" to the creation of sensational or misleading stories camouflaged as news. "Anyone — not just Russians, anyone — can throw an idea against the Internet wall and

A government contractor in Georgia has been charged in federal court with leaking a classified report containing top-secret information to a news organization. The Department of Justice announced Monday prosecutors charged 25-year-old Reality Leigh Winner of Augusta with mailing copies of classified documents to a reporter.

Updated at 9 p.m. ET Russia's military intelligence agency launched an attack days before Election Day on a U.S. company that provides election services and systems, including voter registration, according to a top-secret report posted Monday by The Intercept . The news site published a report, with redactions, by the National Security Agency that described the Russian spear-phishing scheme, one it described as perpetrated by the same intelligence agency — the GRU — that the Obama administration imposed sanctions on for the 2016 cyber mischief. According to the NSA report, Russian hackers sent emails to people who worked at a company that provides state and local election offices with voter registration systems, trying to trick them into giving up their user credentials. The Intercept reports, "At least one of the employee accounts was likely compromised, the agency concluded." The NSA report says that the Russians then used information from that account to launch a separate phishing

Facebook's concession that it sold $100,000 in ads to Russian-linked accounts last year may be "just the tip of the iceberg" of how social networks were used to interfere in the election, warned the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, who is leading the Senate's investigation into Russia's election attack, said Thursday he has long believed that Moscow used overt social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to intervene in the 2016 election, as well as other covert tools such as cyberattacks. "And you know, the first reaction from Facebook, of course, was, "Well, you're crazy, nothing's going on,'" Warner said at a national security conference in Washington, D.C. "Well, we find yesterday there actually was something going on. And I think all we saw yesterday in terms of their brief was the tip of the iceberg." Facebook acknowledged in a blog post on Wednesday that 470 accounts "affiliated with one another and likely operated out of Russia"

For more than nine months, Twitter and Facebook have tried to dodge the intense public scrutiny involved with the investigation into Russian interference in last year's presidential election. Now they're in the spotlight. Congressional investigators are digging in on Russia's use of Facebook, Twitter and other social media companies to try to influence the 2016 campaign. And after a series of escalating complaints by the leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Facebook said Thursday it was handing over the content of more than 3,000 ads believed to be linked with Moscow's attack on the election. "We support Congress in deciding how to best use this information to inform the public, and we expect the government to publish its findings when their investigation is complete," said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg . And there'll be much more: The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee has said he wants to hold a public hearing next month on Moscow's efforts to manipulate social

The CIA on Thursday was forced to walk back an assertion by Director Mike Pompeo, who incorrectly said U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian efforts to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election were unsuccessful. Asked at a security conference in Washington, D.C., on Thursday whether he could say with absolute certainty that the November vote was not skewed by Russia, Pompeo replied: "Yes. Intelligence community's assessment is that the Russian meddling that took place did not affect the outcome of the election." In a later clarification, the head of the CIA's office of public affairs, Dean Boyd, said: "The intelligence assessment with regard to Russian election meddling has not changed, and the Director did not intend to suggest that it had." U.S. intelligence concluded in a January assessment that "the senior-most officials" in Russia had authorized hacks into the Democratic National Committee and officials connected with the Clinton campaign. And then

A computer server crucial to a lawsuit against Georgia election officials was quietly wiped clean by its custodians just after the suit was filed, The Associated Press has learned.

A former Trump campaign official has withdrawn from consideration for a job at the U.S. Department of Agriculture after being pulled into the imbroglio over Russia's interference efforts against the U.S. in the 2016 presidential race. Sam Clovis said on Thursday that he would not go forward in trying to become the USDA's undersecretary for research, education and economics. That news followed a quick series of connected developments in the Russia investigation being conducted by the Department of Justice special counsel: first, a guilty plea — announced Monday —by a former campaign adviser who worked for Clovis, and then, reports that Clovis has been interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller's team in the Russia case and also testified before a Washington, D.C., grand jury. George Papadopoulos, the foreign policy adviser who has pleaded guilty, was approached by Russian agents early in his tenure and offered "dirt" on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and meetings with Russian

A lot of people collect things, and in Paul Sherman’s family, that thing is campaign memorabilia. Paul’s new book is called “Look Away: Documenting Crude and Sexist Items From the Trump Campaign Trail.” It includes several pictures from rallies in Georgia. We recently caught up with three members of the Sherman family.

Republicans had watched Donald Trump unleash powerful forces inside their party for more than a year. On Election Day last year, the question for many inside the GOP was how to deal with those forces once Trump had lost. Few had figured out what it would mean for the party if he won. Democrats were planning. There were lists of cabinet secretaries and the challenge of breaking the deadlock that set in between President Obama and the GOP Congress once President Hillary Clinton was in office. Few had figured out what it would mean for the party if she lost. Over the past year, Republicans have struggled to come together and govern effectively. Democrats have struggled to unite around a common cause, or move on from bitter infighting. But both parties may finally be figuring out how to exist in the Trump era. Republicans 'No if, ands or buts,' it's Trump's party New York Rep. Chris Collins made the smartest bet of his political career when he became the first House Republican to endorse

Updated at 3:36 p.m. E.D.T. on December 4. President Trump may have been involved with a change to the Republican Party campaign platform last year that watered down support for U.S. assistance to Ukraine, according to new information from someone who was involved. Diana Denman, a Republican delegate who supported arming U.S. allies in Ukraine, has told people that Trump aide J.D. Gordon said at the Republican Convention in 2016 that Trump directed him to support weakening that position in the official platform. Ultimately, the softer position was adopted. Denman is scheduled to meet this week with the House and Senate Intelligence committees to discuss what she saw, said two sources familiar with the briefings. Investigators in Congress and elsewhere want to ask the San Antonio-area woman about how her proposal supporting Ukraine changed in the course of last year's convention. People familiar with the story described it to NPR. Robert N. Driscoll, a Washington-based lawyer for Denman

WATCH THE ARCHIVES HERE!

When COVID first shuttered churches in 2020, no one but God could have foreseen that it would lead to the largest-ever gathering at the Amazing Facts W.O.R.D. Center. Yet it did precisely that!

From June 12 to 15, 2024, a record number of youth attended Stand: Unshakeable Faith, the 2024 Amazing Facts Youth Conference—including setting a record one-day Sabbath gathering of 1,500 people, who gathered to hear Pastor Doug Batchelor, president of Amazing Facts International, present his message to young people, “Standing on the High Ground.” Watch archives of this and other 2024 AFY Conference presentations by visiting www.afyouth.com.

Many young people traveled long distances to participate in the conference, which was designed to help them develop a resilient faith in the face of secular culture and peer pressure. They were joined by thousands more online! We praise God that the Holy Spirit moved mightily, as hundreds of youth recommitted to living for Jesus in these last days of Earth’s history. 

Said Pastor Doug, “This youth conference gave me such joy and hope for the future of our church. It was absolutely thrilling to see so many young people come to hear the Word.”

Throughout the weekend, speakers explored what it means to stand firm for Jesus. Their messages focused on being filled with the Holy Spirit, watching and praying with Christ, being a part of the remnant, understanding God’s love story for us, and the role of trials in our growth. Along with Pastor Doug, speakers included Anil Kanda, Carlos Muñoz, Diamond Garcia, Anella Poljak, and Darcee Christensen.[PQ-HERE]

AFY: Humble Beginnings

Worried about the church losing youth to the isolation of COVID restrictions and social distancing, Tony Scarpino, a youth leader at the Granite Bay Hilltop Church, took their Sabbath School programs online. Those initial social media broadcasts became the seed of Amazing Facts Youth (AFY), a worldwide ministry that meets online twice weekly, prays earnestly for one another, and leads out in the conference. 

From those humble beginnings, God has worked mightily to grow and prosper the movement, including leading Amazing Facts to present an annual youth conference. “I am in awe of what God did at this year’s conference,” says Tony. “I saw families coming alive together. The little kids were vibrant, the youth were engaged, and the parents were involved. It was incredible!”

Attendees from as far away as Honduras and New York enjoyed the engaging presentations, united prayer, community outreach, and fellowship with like-minded individuals. Evening sessions, free meals served by the local church members, and an afternoon outing to an adventure park provided opportunities for fun and friendship. 

“This was a wonderful weekend for our family,” reflects Tamara from Dayton, Ohio. “As a mom, I’m always looking for ways to get my boys involved in things that will grow their faith.”

For the first time, this year’s conference included presentations designed for kids. Presented by Amazing Facts evangelist Daniel Hudgens, Amazing Adventures introduced younger children at the conference to the importance of the Bible, standing against sin, and walking with Jesus. The kids also enjoyed music and rousing Bible games.

A Place Where Youth Have a Voice

Over the past four years, Tony and others have helped mentor a team of dedicated youth who now run AFY’s weekly meetings. The youth team even chose the theme Stand: Unshakeable Faith for the 2024 conference and organized many aspects of the event. “The youth have a real voice here,” says Tony.

On the final night of this year’s conference, Pastor Anil Kanda urged the youth not to let the enthusiasm they experienced at the conference end with the event. He said, “God is going to need another generation to rise up and stand in the gap. I’m getting a lot of grey hairs, [and] Pastor Doug isn’t always going to be here. God is calling you to share His love with the world. He is not interested in how prepared you are. He is interested in how willing you are. He will open incredible doors if you are willing.”

His message hit especially hard for the youth, who are challenged by worldly entertainment and distractions unlike at any other time in history. Aleah, a teen from California, says, “The meetings explained exactly what I’ve gone through.”

Her friend Marissa was also blessed by the speakers’ messages, saying, “They have been really helpful to me. The speakers have shown me how necessary it is to spend time with God each day and how to make it a priority.” 

Sharing the gospel is an essential part of every AFY conference. On Friday afternoon, after specialized AFCOE training with Carlos Muñoz, AFCOE director, and other staff, over 200 energetic youth went into the community to give out biblical literature and pray with people. 

An hour later, they returned eager to share what God had done. “This was my first time going door-to-door,” said Shivani. “I was very nervous, but we gave out all our books and prayed for seven or eight people. I realized that a lot of people are hurting, so I’m thankful God gave me the courage to go out. It was a good experience.”

Welcome to the AFY Family

Edward, a psychology student, is a leader at AFY who has been an active member ever since the first Zoom meeting. Smiling brightly, he shares, “We’ve built relationships with each other and God here. I want people to know that regardless of who you are or what is going on in your life, you are welcome in the AFY family.”

Like many other members, Kyle wanted to follow God but had little practical experience. All that has changed through his participation in AFY. Today, he is strong in faith and active in ministry. He says, “Being a part of AFY has definitely changed me for the better. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without it. The community, the fellowship, the likemindedness—these people are my family.” 

That’s precisely what the team at AFY has been striving for. “We’ve invested years into these kids,” Tony says. “To see them grow as individuals and leaders is wonderful. And now to see AFY expanding to reach so many more youth—God is doing something really exciting!”

Says Pastor Doug, “I believe in the message of Joel 2:28, which reveals that our sons and daughters will play a vital role in the gospel work in the last days. That’s why I’m so thrilled to see our team training up the youth, these young men and women who will be part of the generation to fulfill this amazing promise.”

Plans are now being made for the 2025 youth conference. Visit afyouth.com to keep up to date. But you don’t have to wait to get involved in AFY. Check out these weekly events:

• Hey, Let’s Pray: Mondays at 6:00 PM ET

• AFY Live: Fridays at 6:00 PM ET

WATCH THE ARCHIVES HERE!

Beginning September 20, 2024, Amazing Facts International will present Prophecy Odyssey: You Can Know the Future with speaker Pastor Doug Batchelor. This evangelistic Bible series features 16 timely, power-packed presentations that will be broadcast in front of a live audience at the Manhattan Center in New York City, the “capital of the world,” during a time of great global upheaval.

It can also be seen around the world on AFTV, Hope Channel International, 3ABN, Facebook, Roku, YouTube, SUMtv, and SUMtv Latino. Additionally, you can watch Prophecy Odyssey on many satellites around the world, including HotBird (Europe, Middle East, and North Africa), Galaxy 19 (US), IS20 (Central and South Africa), VAST (Australia), and Freeview (UK).

Prophecy Odyssey is approaching fast. It’s not too late to register to be an event host, invite your friends, or sign up to be a Manhattan Missionary!

Devastating events across our sin-darkened planet—financial collapse, natural catastrophes, international conflicts, political strife—are causing many to feel anxious about what the future holds. But the Bible provides hope-filled answers to life’s deepest questions and prepares hearts for the soon coming of Jesus.

[PQ-HERE]Says Pastor Doug, “Communicating the most pertinent prophecies of the Bible is our goal. I believe these unique multimedia presentations will challenge what most people think they know about the world and their purpose in it. Our message is that God’s final prophetic Word will soon come to pass. Are you ready for it? Together, we’ll learn the what, the when, the why, and the how in a way that will prepare us for what is coming to our planet.”

Prophecy Odyssey will be a series like no other, leading viewers to the key prophecies of Scripture—where God gives vital but assuring messages that will change lives for eternity. Pastor Doug will also offer a clear understanding of our world’s current events and why they are happening—and why it all must culminate with the Second Coming.

The first three nights will get off to a quick and fascinating start … 

Night 1: Friday, September 20, 7:00 PM ET — Signs of the Coming King
Unmistakable signs signal Jesus’ soon return—and are you ready for it?

Night 2: Saturday, September 21, 7:00 PM ET — The Prophecy of History
What is the most comprehensive prophecy in all of the Bible?

Night 3: Sunday, September 22, 7:00 PM ET — The Arch-Villain of Prophecy
There is a fiendish effort to turn us away from understanding prophecy.

Other topics to be covered include the truth about hellfire, the afterlife, the millennium, the mark of the beast, the USA in Bible prophecy, and many more eye-opening revelations.

Get Active!

Would you or your church like to be part of this extraordinary opportunity to bring Bible prophecy to a world lost in spiritual darkness? We may not have many more chances to share every aspect of these messages openly, so please prayerfully consider hosting the event at your church or even your home.

Bible lessons are also being developed for this series, with plans for them to be available for sharing at your event. We’ll also make advertising easy. Let’s lead viewers into an eternal, joyful relationship with God together!

Mission Manhattan

We’re also inviting people to be part of this evangelistic project through Mission Manhattan! You will receive free AFCOE training, distribute literature, and do music and health ministry on the streets of Manhattan to raise interest and invite the community to the Prophecy Odyssey meetings in the evening. Training and literature are free, but you will need to cover travel, lodging, and meals. More information here.

Start planning now for this exciting outreach event! 

For more information about Prophecy Odyssey, visit prophecyodyssey.com. And keep watching for more details as we get ready to share God’s truths with millions!

Amazing Facts International is excited to announce that the Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism (AFCOE) will hold its fall 2024 complete course in Granite Bay, California, beginning in August!

The three-month program aligns with Pastor Doug Batchelor’s upcoming Prophecy Odyssey evangelistic series in New York City in September. The class will help local congregations prepare for the reaping event through intensive training in outreach, including giving Bible studies, answering difficult Bible questions, organizing effective pre-work, discipling new believers, and much more.

However, the training provided for this series is not meant to benefit only our friends in NYC. Carlos Muñoz, AFCOE director, says, “We invite everyone, from everywhere, to come train and work for this event and learn how to replicate it in their local congregations. What you learn and practice here will help you grow your community of faith wherever you live.”

AFCOE is designed to help Christians from all backgrounds speak persuasively for Christ in public settings, develop a vibrant devotional life, confidently share their faith with others, and identify their specific calling in ministry. AFCOE can even teach you how to start and grow your own ministry.

Students will get winsome, empowering instruction from Pastor Doug and other experienced soul-winners, including Jëan Ross, vice president of evangelism; Carlos Muñoz; Daniel Hudgens, AFCOE assistant director; Dr. David Shin; Dwayne Lemon; Anil Kanda; and many more. Our instructors and guest speakers have excelled in their ministry fields and will give you a wider breadth of outreach and Bible knowledge.

Students will also go beyond the classroom to win souls for Jesus, working directly with Amazing Facts and churches to gain valuable outreach experience that will make an eternal difference. Says Pastor Doug, “AFCOE is about learning while doing. Students do real work in real communities and with real people, bringing real results for the Master.”

[PQ-HERE]

Is God Calling You?

Would you like to be a part of this amazing experience? Do you desire to become a better soul-winner, Bible worker, missionary, health evangelist, or whatever else God has called you to be? We invite you to learn more at afcoe.org today. Prayerfully ask God whether He wants you to receive this empowering, life-changing outreach training and win souls for Christ in these last days!

Quick Facts:

• Three-month outreach training course (August 15 to November 16).

• Classes are held in Granite Bay, California.

• Your AFCOE fee will cover airfare and lodging to New York City for Prophecy Odyssey outreach.

• Space is limited—housing enrollment deadline: July 18.

Apply today at afcoe.org!

In August 2021, Amazing Facts International took a significant step in live evangelism when it turned Bible Answers Live, its flagship radio program hosted by Pastor Doug Batchelor, president, into a format that people could watch on television. 

Three years later, the video broadcast is still increasing in popularity and reaching thousands more for Jesus Christ. It has quickly gained an audience on AFTV, YouTube, the Good News Network (based in Phoenix, Arizona), and a variety of other local stations.

The radio version of the program, which has been providing Bible answers for 29 consecutive years, is heard on more than 400 stations—including SiriusXM, LifeTalk, 3ABN Radio, Strong Tower, and the Salem Radio Network.

People all around the world tune in to Bible Answers Live every week—including inmates across the United States. Pastor Doug and co-host Jëan Ross, vice president of evangelism, have received calls from Canada, Mexico, Australia, Dubai, Brazil, Europe, the United Kingdom, the Caribbean, Africa, and more! Callers have ranged from 4 to 90 years of age.

Beginning August 4, Bible Answers Live will air live on Hope TV on Sundays at 7:00 pm Pacific, reaching a new audience with its interactive format. (Previous episodes on Hope have been reruns.) Says Pastor Doug, “We are grateful for the opportunity to air live on Hope TV. We praise God for using the program to reach people across the globe!” 

Like Sitting Down With Listeners

Transforming a radio program into a television broadcast did not happen without some misgivings. 

Pastor Doug shares, “We never thought people would want to watch a radio program, but it turns out people love the video broadcast! Our calls have increased so much since we started airing on TV. Sometimes, we really had to encourage people to call in with their questions. Now we just mention the phone number once or twice, and the phones immediately light up.

“The visual program communicates even more,” Pastor Doug adds. “On the radio, we can only read the amazing fact that starts the program. But now, we can show eye-catching pictures of the fact and put Bible verses on the screen. There is a downside, though,” he says with a wry smile. “Now we have to dress up and look respectable.”

One 16-year-old girl was transformed by her experience with Bible Answers Live. She writes, “I grew up being taught that the wicked burn in hell forever.” She told us about her panic attacks when thinking about dying lost and burning eternally. But then she started listening to Bible Answers Live and learned that God will not torture unrepentant sinners forever. She says, “I started to realize that I could now love God. Listening to your program changed my whole perspective. I now have peace.” [PQ-HERE]

A Beacon of Hope

Pastors Doug and Jëan typically take about 15 calls from viewers and answer them directly from the Bible during each dynamic 60-minute program. This format has engaged radio listeners for almost three decades, opening up the mysteries of Scripture to thousands of searching hearts.

Pastor Doug says, “I first realized how many people have Bible questions when I began doing public evangelism years ago. There was never enough time to cover all the subjects, so I added time in my programs for people to ask questions from anywhere in the Scriptures. It turned out to be the most popular part of the program!”

Bible Answers Live also serves as a powerful gateway that leads open-hearted listeners to a vast array of Bible resources on our website, YouTube, TV, social media, and more. Over 800 callers receive live answers to their questions each year, and nearly 2,000 people requested the free offers made available during the program in 2023.

Janet, a listener from Jamaica, says, “Bible Answers Live has been a beacon of hope for me. I have learned so much through the program.”

Bill, another caller, says, “Before I get to my Bible question, I just want to say that I was once an atheist, but then I started listening to your program out of curiosity. And then I got hooked—now I’m a baptized believer!

Do You Have a Bible Question?

Call 1-800-GOD-SAYS during the broadcast to have your question answered live on the air! Watch Bible Answers Live each Sunday at 7:00 pm Pacific on AFTV, YouTube, and Hope TV. Or listen on over 400 stations, including SiriusXM, LifeTalk, 3ABN Radio, Strong Tower, and the Salem Radio Network.

Program archives are also available 24/7 on YouTube and here at this link. 

Every five years, the Pathfinder Camporee draws church youth from around the world for an unforgettable time of worship, learning, prayer, and fellowship. This year was no different, with over 55,000 young people and sponsors attending the gathering, which was held in Gillette, Wyoming. 

And for the first time ever, Amazing Facts and Pastor Doug Batchelor, president, attended the weeklong event—which included hosting a booth and offering kids a chance to earn an exclusive honor badge.

Over the first few days, many young people crowded around the Amazing Facts booth and attended a special class called “Preach It!,” taught by Daniel Hudgens, evangelist and assistant director of AFCOE, who taught school-age kids how to share their faith. Says Daniel, “It was a delight to see so many young people realize that they preach a sermon every day by the life they live.” Those who attended received a free book and could get a Preach It! badge after returning home.

Amazing Facts also produced a commemorative puzzle that incorporated this year’s camporee theme, “Believe the Promise.” The colorful artwork consisted of events from the life of Moses and the Exodus.

Later in the week, a storm severe enough to produce a tornado warning doused the camp with rain and even blew down tents. No significant damage was done, but when the chance of more severe weather threatened to strike camp during the final Sabbath, Camporee leaders made the difficult decision to end a day early for everyone’s safety.

Since all official Camporee activities were canceled, most attendees began to pack up. Still, with nowhere else to go, many at camp decided to stay through to the end.

With no Sabbath programs scheduled, Pastor Doug asked Camporee leadership if Amazing Facts could use a tent and microphone to host a worship service for anyone who wanted to attend. He got approval on Sabbath at 8:00 AM! The Amazing Facts team jumped into action, driving through the campground with a megaphone to invite everyone to join in the impromptu Sabbath service.

Says Pastor Doug, “There were only three or four people in the tent when I walked in, but we got started anyway. Someone offered to lead out in a song service. Then, a Pathfinder group showed up and offered to do special music. By the time we finished, 500 people were in the tent worshiping Jesus! There was still time before lunch, so we opened it up for the kids to ask their questions about the Bible.”

[PQ-HERE]People then began asking if there would be a vespers service. “I honestly didn’t know if anyone would come to that since we’d already met in the morning,” Pastor Doug shares. “I guess my faith was small because a thousand people showed up that evening for a message, prayer, and singing.”

Pastor Doug reflects, “It started with an idea Friday night, and by Sabbath evening, a thousand people were worshiping together. The youth there were so hungry for spiritual connection. I believe God worked a little miracle to make it happen.”

By God’s grace, the severe weather never materialized. And for one Amazing Facts worker, the unexpected turn of events pointed to the promise found in Romans 8:28: “God took something the devil had meant for harm and turned it into something good. We serve an amazing God!”

From June 22 to July 6, 2024, Amazing Facts Oceania led an evangelistic and health outreach trip to Kenya. Providing medical and dental care, sharing the gospel in prisons and schools, and preaching at 20 outdoor sites. 

God blessed mightily—4,454 precious souls responded to His call and were baptized. One of the evangelists described the crowds as “very hungry for the Word of God!”

The medical team treated 5,000 needy people across 12 medical and dental clinics. They also provided medications and health education. Additionally, the team distributed 1,600 Bibles in Swahili and English and 83,000 Amazing Facts Study Guides. 

Prisoners eagerly responded to the messages of hope shared by the evangelism team. Nearly 225 prisoners gave their hearts to Jesus and were baptized. They were also thrilled to receive their own copies of the Bible. 

Students at public and Christian schools also responded eagerly to the gospel presentations. In one public school, 500 students eagerly accepted Amazing Facts Study Guides. At another public school, the entire student body rose to their feet to give their lives to Christ.[PQ-HERE]

Led by Ettienne McClintock, partner relationship manager at Amazing Facts Oceania, the team included 17 pastors, lay evangelists, and medical workers from Australia and New Zealand, who responded to our Lord’s commission to “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Prior to the team arriving in Kenya, Amazing Facts Oceania had sponsored local evangelists to conduct evangelistic programs at 33 additional sites, making a total of 53 sites. The local churches are now discipling the precious new additions to God’s family at each location.

Divine Protection 

Satan did not want these meetings to take place. Severe monsoonal flooding caused damage across Kenya in the month preceding the evangelistic programs. Then, just as the evangelistic meetings were to begin, violent political protests broke out across Kenya against the government’s new tax laws. Dozens of people around the governor’s office in Nairobi were killed and hundreds more injured in the protests, making headlines around the world. Foreigners were particularly under threat. 

After much prayer, the team decided to proceed with the meetings despite the dangers. God answered dramatically. Above-average rainfall had been predicted for Kenya, but it did not rain for two full weeks while the team ran mass-scale outdoor evangelism—until the last person had been baptized. Then it poured!

God’s protection was also evident as thousands gathered to hear the gospel preached in the open air. One evening, while Ettienne was preaching, he heard the shouts and gunshots of an approaching riot. People were clearly nervous, but no one left when Ettienne asked the congregation if they wanted to go home. A noticeable peace settled over the huge crowd as Ettienne prayed for divine protection. The gunshots soon faded away. Many people made decisions for Christ that night.

Lives Renewed

God has promised in His word that “no weapon that is formed against you will prosper” (Isaiah 54:17), so in answer to earnest prayers, the work went on despite Satan’s best attempts to stop it. The mission produced a harvest of souls in Kenya that could only be possible through a God who works miracles in people’s hearts.

Alex had spent the last year sleeping on park benches while trying to get a job and an education. As the oldest son, Alex was expected to support his family, but his failure to even support himself had pushed him into alcoholism. At this low point, he heard music from one of the evangelistic meetings and came to listen. The message of hope from God’s Word drew him in, and Alex gave his life to Christ that evening. He is now preparing for baptism.

The Oceania team met Jabari the day he was released from prison. * He had been falsely accused and was on his way to murder his accuser and then commit suicide when he came across one of the evangelism sites. Jabari stopped to find out what was happening and met two team members. When they realized that two lives were in grave danger, they took Jabari aside and shared with him about God’s love and forgiveness. Jabari’s face began to soften, and he was visibly touched. He gave his life to God that evening and resolved to let God bring justice instead of trying to make it happen himself.

At one of the roadside medical clinics, a 22-year-old man named John arrived with a large stick in his hand. He was missing his two front teeth but had no apparent disability. “Why the stick?” the doctor asked. 

“I fell into bad company,” the young man responded in fluent English, “and was using drugs and alcohol. My family threw me out of home, so now I live by my stick. I catch rats with my stick, and I roast and eat them. My stick helps me dig out ground nuts to eat so that I can survive.”

John’s story deeply moved the doctor. He taught John how to live more healthfully (no rats!) and told him about Jesus—the Healer who welcomes him as a son, no matter what he has done in the past. John began to attend the meetings and was baptized at the end of the program.

A Renewed Commitment to Reach Australia

After two weeks of seeing God work miraculously in Kenya, the Amazing Facts Oceania team returned to Australia and New Zealand with a renewed commitment to sharing the gospel in their secular homelands. They are now launching a robust digital media and television campaign this month with a presentation called Kingdoms in Time, which focuses on the prophecies of the Bible that have all come true, with the final prophecies soon to unfold. 

Please pray that many will give their lives to Christ through this outreach in Australia and New Zealand. Please also pray for the thousands who accepted Christ in Kenya and for the many seeds of truth that were planted by the Oceania mission trip. 

To read more about the exciting outreach to Kenya and see many more pictures, click here.

*Jabari’s name has been changed to protect his identity.

WATCH THE ARCHIVES HERE!

Manhattan Center, Manhattan – There are 45 minutes until the Prophecy Odyssey meeting begins tonight, but already the Manhattan Center is buzzing with activity. The main floor is beginning to fill up as guests file in from the streets. Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism (AFCOE) students just gathered to pray for the Holy Spirit to work mightily through this meeting. 

Camera operators are getting into position for the evening production. Behind the huge LED wall, the Amazing Facts’ media team is busy putting together a life-changing production to broadcast live around the world. Not long ago, Doug Batchelor, president of Amazing Facts International, was in the media control room going over last-minute plans with the team.

There is a sense of quiet eagerness among the guests. Many are reviewing the Bible studies they received when they walked in the front door. Others are talking with AFCOE students and staff as Jackie plays and sings “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior” at the grand piano on stage. [PQ-HERE]

Outside, large signs advertise the event along busy 34th Street. Once the meeting begins, a large LED screen on the street allows passersby to watch the meetings live. 

A City Ready for Harvest

The Prophecy Odyssey series opened on Friday night, September 20, to a packed audience. The main floor and three levels of balconies were all full of people eager to hear the Word of God. Many have continued to come for the nightly meetings. 

Prophecy Odyssey is an epic, 15-part Bible series presented by Pastor Doug. Attendees are getting clear, trustworthy, logical answers to their questions about the book of Revelation, prophecy, and the last days. 

Amazing Facts chose New York City for the Prophecy Odyssey series because of the potential to reach people from so many cultures in one place. “The whole reason we’re here is to bring souls into the kingdom,” says Wayne Leman, Amazing Facts’ media creative. “New York City is such a melting pot of cultures. What better place to reap a great harvest?” 

AFCOE students have been doing outreach in the city parks each day. “Our goal is to strike up conversations with people that we meet,” explains J Broder, an AFCOE student from Bakersfield, Calif. “We tell people we are praying for the community and ask them how they think we should pray for people in New York. Then we share the Prophecy Odyssey meeting invitations.” 

“I have so many stories of what God is doing!” says Cornell, another AFCOE student. 

Our Largest Production Yet

“Doing a production in New York City is unlike anything else,” says Wayne. “New York is a technological beast. Everything is booming so fast here. It’s very different than when broadcast from a local church.” 

The media team began preparing for this massive production months ago. They put together a flight pack with all the camera, sound, recording, augmented reality, LED wall, and other media equipment they would need for the series. Then, they practiced loading it into the 16-foot travel trailer and unloading and setting it up rapidly. “It’s a good thing we did!” says Wayne. “We needed every moment we had to get things ready.” 

The first night challenged the media team to the utmost. “We started the production with only four of our eleven cameras working,” Wayne explains. “By the end of the night, we had nine cameras running. The devil definitely was attacking. But we believed, and God answered. It’s only gotten better since.”

It’s Not Too Late

Prophecy Odyssey is being broadcast live around the world in English and Spanish. It is also being translated by artificial intelligence technology into 14 languages. Groups are watching live in Belgium, New Guinea, and many other places around the world. 

It’s not too late to begin watching the Prophecy Odyssey meetings or to share them with someone who needs to know that there is a God in heaven who has good plans for them. Live broadcasts are available at prophecyodyssey.com, AFTV.org, Hope Channel, and on YouTube. Free Bible lessons and recordings of previous meetings are also available.

Thank you for making Prophecy Odyssey possible. Please keep praying that God blesses seekers abundantly!

WATCH THE ARCHIVES HERE!

Manhattan Center, Manhattan — Claudia wasn’t supposed to be in New York to celebrate her birthday with her family until next month. But her schedule shifted, and she ended up here, now. “I didn’t know about Prophecy Odyssey until I got here,” she says. When her mother told her about the series, she knew she needed to come and bring her cousin Paula, who has been searching for God recently. “Now I know why I’m here this week instead of next month!” 

Claudia, Paula, and Claudia’s mom came to Prophecy Odyssey last night and heard Pastor Doug explain who the antichrist beast is in Bible prophecy. The message was fascinating for Paula. “It answered a lot of my questions,” she said afterward. “I loved how clear everything was. And it was all presented so well.” She plans to come again tonight. 

Better than Dry

Patricia started drinking and smoking when she was just seven years old. By the time she was 13, she drank to blackout. She was also finding herself attracted to the same sex. “I was doing it to escape the pain of my dad’s abuse,” she says. “I was so angry with God. Why would he make me like this?” 

Over the years, she tried to stop drinking, but nothing worked. Eventually, she got involved with Alcoholics Anonymous. “They told me I needed to find my higher power, so I started seeking God.” Her search led her to look for things about prayer and the Bible on YouTube. 

One day, a sermon with Pastor Doug popped up in her feed. “What is this?” she wondered. But something told her to watch. Soon, Amazing Facts became her go-to. “I listen to it all the time.” 

Patricia’s excitement about God bubbles over. “I’m better than dry!” she smiles. “I’m seeking God! And He goes out of His way to show me that He loves me.” She hasn’t been in a relationship with another woman for three years. “It’s just me and God.” She gave her life to God in baptism this past weekend and is thrilled to be attending the Prophecy Odyssey and be part of the local church family.

160 Baptized Already

Patricia is not the only one who has been baptized because of Prophecy Odyssey. The local Sabbath-keeping churches have been working hard to prepare for the meetings. Eighteen Bible workers have been preparing people in the greater New York area for baptism. Their work has been extraordinarily successful. 

Pastor Lara, who has been coordinating the local effort, says, “About 160 people have been baptized in New York City already, but I am praying for 250 baptisms. I have no doubt that God will give them to us! We’ve been working hard, and God has been doing amazing things.” 

Pastor Lara is working closely with local congregations to ensure that every newly baptized individual is welcomed into the family of God and has a spiritual guardian who will help them grow in faith.[PQ-HERE]

New York Instead of Peru

Jason and Dee Patton had scheduled a trip to Peru to celebrate their seventeenth anniversary, but then they heard about Prophecy Odyssey and the opportunity to be Manhattan Missionaries. “We did the worst possible thing,” Dee grins. “We decided to pray about it.” It wasn’t long until a friend offered them a fully furnished basement in which to stay in New York.

They couldn’t be happier about their decision to reschedule their trip. On their first day of witnessing, they prayed with a man named Ani. He had just lost his job and was desperately searching for a new one. They kept in touch over the next few days and kept inviting him to come to the meetings. He showed up for the first time on Sunday evening. “Pastor Doug told people they would get a special blessing from being here,” Dee says. “And guess what?! Twenty-four hours after coming to the meeting, he got a job!” 

“This is totally God’s leading!” says Jason.

Prophecy Odyssey Reaching Millions Online

Prophecy Odyssey is also reaching people far beyond the borders of New York City. Already, the live broadcasts have been viewed 28.3 million times on Facebook and 1.9 million times on YouTube. 

Only God knows all the people who are being touched by the series, but the reports filtering back to us are thrilling. One viewer wrote, “I was suicidal as this series started. Watching has completely turned things around for me—and given me hope and something to look forward to and believe in. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

Pastor Doug Batchelor, president of Amazing Facts International and speaker for Prophecy Odyssey, says, “What we are seeing now is just the beginning of all God is going to do through this series. Once they get on the internet, people will be able to watch them for years to come.” 

“It is always exciting to go where you see God leading!” adds Karen Batchelor, his wife. “We have been personally praying for these meetings for the past one and a half years. Meeting the people and sharing Bible truth is always amazing!”

Please continue to pray with us for all those attending Prophecy Odyssey in person and watching online. And thank you for helping to make these evangelistic meetings possible! 

How to Watch

Live broadcasts of Prophecy Odyssey are available at prophecyodyssey.com, AFTV.org, Hope Channel, and YouTube. Free Bible lessons and previous meetings are available at prophecyodyssey.com.

WATCH THE ARCHIVES HERE!

There’s something especially thrilling about worshiping God with other devoted Christians, but that excitement is magnified when you realize you are part of something that is reaching people all around the world for Christ. Prophecy Odyssey was just such an experience for the nearly 2,500 people who attended the final weekend of meetings at the Manhattan Center in midtown Manhattan. 

Attendees came from all over the surrounding areas and as far away as Canada, Indonesia, England, and New Zealand to hear Doug Batchelor, president of Amazing Facts International, present the final meetings in the Prophecy Odyssey series. Their faith in God’s Word was reaffirmed through Pastor Doug’s powerful messages about end-time prophecy. Attendees were also treated to beautiful music presented by Jacqueline Jewel and Pastor John Lomacang. 

The audience thrilled as Pastor Bianel Lara, the personal ministries director for the Greater New York Conference, reported that there had already been 251 baptisms in connection with Prophecy Odyssey. (Since then, an additional 70 have been baptized or joined the church by profession of faith.) A Chinese church and a Spanish church have also been planted in Manhattan.

The excitement grew even further when Pastor Doug announced that the meetings had received 35 million views online (which have since increased to over 45 million), as well as having been broadcast live all around the world on 3ABN, and Hope Channel International. 

[PQ-HERE]At the end of Prophecy Odyssey’s final program on Sabbath morning, attendees and Amazing Facts staff joined hands and sang together: “Soldiers all are we to go where Jesus leads. … Heaven is our goal to save every soul. … Pray that we all will be there.” It was a Holy Spirit-blessed climax to the biggest series Amazing Facts has ever attempted.

A Massive Project

“From the outset, this project terrified me,” says Pastor Doug. “It was one of the most complicated and expensive programs Amazing Facts has ever taken on, so it was definitely a faith venture. But by God’s grace, Prophecy Odyssey went exceptionally well. I know that its success was in response to many prayers, careful planning, and hard work.”

Hosting an evangelistic series in New York City required extensive planning and a huge budget. Planning began over a year and a half ago and has involved marketing campaigns, preparing to record and broadcast in 4K, producing a new series of Bible studies, coordination with local churches, and more. It was a project that stretched every member of the Amazing Facts team. 

The marketing team put together strategic advertising that included targeted email blasts, promotion on social media, and placement of television and radio spots in New York City and the surrounding areas. They also enlisted the enthusiastic help of local church members. All the effort paid off in high attendance at the nightly local meetings. 

The media team’s planning yielded meetings that ran smoothly and were visually compelling. The huge LED screen created an engaging backdrop, and the use of augmented reality allowed life-size illustrations to magically appear on stage beside Pastor Doug. 

“The media team captured not just images but lives and emotions,” says Pastor Doug. “From the bustling streets of New York City to people’s expressions each night, the images they captured wove a visual tapestry that touched hearts. Their dedication, adjusting lights and sound, running cables, and managing effects and graphics transformed mere pixels into messages of hope.”

The live broadcasts in English and Spanish were sent via the internet to 3ABN, Hope Channel International, AFTV, YouTube, and social media, enabling millions worldwide to watch simultaneously. The meetings were also translated into 16 additional languages using artificial intelligence technology and are available at prophecyodyssey.com.

New York City to the World 

“We chose New York as the base for this global broadcast because it is the world’s most recognizable city,” explains Pastor Doug. “We felt that filming here would provide the perfect platform for reaching around the world.”

But New York is far more than just a great location for recording a series about end-time events. It is also a city deeply in need of Jesus. “New York City is such a melting pot of people from all over the world,” says Wayne Leman, Prophecy Odyssey producer. “We felt that God was leading us here because it was a place where we could reap a great harvest for the Lord.”

Adds Pastor Doug, “I grew up here in New York, so to come back here again and share the gospel in my hometown is really close to my heart.” Pastor Doug has preached in New York several times. He preached the Millennium of Prophecy series in 1999 and Day to Remember in 2001, just two months after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

To ensure that Prophecy Odyssey reached as many people as possible in New York City, Amazing Facts worked with the local Sabbath-keeping churches to hire 18 individuals who gave Bible studies in the weeks leading up to the series. The Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism (AFCOE) also moved to New York for the duration of the meetings. AFCOE classes were provided free of charge to local Sabbath-keepers and anyone else who wanted to come learn how to share their faith effectively. About 100 people traveled to New York to be Manhattan Missionaries, joining the 26 AFCOE students in creative city evangelism. Their enthusiasm for sharing Jesus motivated a variety of outreaches, including prayer ministry, street preaching, and music ministry. 

God blessed their efforts with numerous divine appointments. Jeffrey Cook, an AFCOE student from California, was led to a street sweeper just moments after praying for God to lead him to the right person. “He was so grateful for prayer,” says Jeffrey. “He said he had never had anyone pray for him before. He started telling me his whole life story and how he had been planning to do something really bad to the guy his girlfriend was cheating with that night. It gave me goosebumps when he said that. I know God needed me there right then.”  

Just the Beginning of God’s Stories …

Space does not permit us to tell all the stories of how God used Prophecy Odyssey to touch individuals with His grace. But perhaps a few will give some idea of the impact these meetings are already having: 

• James, a security guard at the Manhattan Center, requested prayer to stop smoking near the beginning of the meetings. His desire for tobacco disappeared, and he requested Bible studies.

• Margaret came from England to bring her best friend to the meetings. “I realized I’d never shared the gospel with her,” she says.

• Wendy had a dream about rescuing people by the Statute of Liberty right before hearing about the Manhattan Missionary program. “I knew God needed me to come,” she says. “God definitely set up some divine appointments for me.”

• “It’s so exciting to be here,” says David, who attended the final weekend with his wife, Malena. “I was 17 when I came to Millenium of Prophecy 25 years ago. I was a rebellious teenager then, but Pastor Doug’s messages have been an anchor for me. We’re thrilled to be a part of what God is doing here.”

• Debbie learned about Prophecy Odyssey on Facebook. “I knew I had to come,” she smiles. “Pastor Doug makes it easy to understand the Bible.”

• Darien wandered into Times Square and was drawn in by the street preaching and music. He listened for an hour and then spent all afternoon with the missionaries before coming to the evening meetings. 

• Mark took a flyer from a Manhattan Missionary and immediately recognized Pastor Doug. “I used to listen to him all the time,” he said, “but I haven’t been to church in a long time. I know God is calling me back.” 

Pastor Doug says, “We know that God will continue to use Prophecy Odyssey to touch lives for years to come. We often hear stories of people who had our materials sitting around for years before they watched them and were converted. Now that Prophecy Odyssey is online, God will guide people to them and answer their prayers for truth through them.”

Thank you for your prayers and generous support of Prophecy Odyssey. Your devotion to God’s work is enabling the Holy Spirit to write tens of thousands of stories of healing and hope!

Archived broadcasts of Prophecy Odyssey are available at prophecyodyssey.com.

In 1994, Doug Batchelor took the reins at Amazing Facts International—and for the past three decades, God has blessed his bold yet down-to-earth leadership and preaching. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the ministry has grown exponentially and tens of thousands have been baptized globally.

Says Pastor Doug, “Over the past 30 years, I’ve seen God expand this ministry’s kaleidoscope of outreach in such amazing ways. We do so many different things in ministry now—it boggles my mind! We’re training people to share the gospel, printing truth-filled literature, producing TV and radio broadcasts, and conducting public evangelism. We are trying to do everything we can to help as many people as possible meet Jesus before He comes back.”

From “No” to “Yes”

Pastor Doug had never planned to lead an international media ministry. In fact, in 1993, he and his wife Karen turned down the first invitation to join Amazing Facts.

Just a year before, he had become the pastor of a church in Sacramento. Right away, God opened the doors for media evangelism, and the church began broadcasting its services on several local television stations. Attendance soon doubled, and the Batchelors were certain they should not leave. 

However, they did agree to pray about the call to Amazing Facts. “We were so blessed and inspired by Pastor Crews,” Karen remembers. “We did not feel capable of following in his footsteps.”

Then, in 1994, everything changed. Pastor Joe Crews, whose vision and leadership had grown Amazing Facts from a fledgling radio program into a full-fledged media ministry, had a heart attack. “Get Doug!” he said.

When the Amazing Facts board reached out again, the Batchelors accepted. Not long after Pastor Doug joined Amazing Facts, the church next to Amazing Facts’ headquarters in Maryland burned down, and the ministry needed to move. After much prayer, leadership voted to move the ministry to California. 

Thirty Years of Growth

God has blessed in incredible ways since Pastor Doug joined Amazing Facts. The ministry has grown from broadcasting on just a few television stations to over 100 in the United States alone. Worldwide broadcast reach exceeds two billion. Radio programming now airs on well over 400 stations. AFCOE training centers spread God’s light in Oceania, Indonesia, the Philippines, Africa, and Europe. 

[PQ-HERE]Along with his many regular speaking engagements, Pastor Doug has preached at least one major evangelistic series every year. His easy-to-understand and engaging sermons reach people from all walks of life. Recorded and prepped for television, these series have brought the light of truth to tens of thousands of seekers. Prophecy Odyssey and the Net ’99 series, which was held 25 years ago at the same location in Manhattan, have been broadcast live around the world.

Additionally, the development of the W.O.R.D. Center (World, Outreach, Revival, and Discipleship), Amazing Facts’ headquarters and church building in Granite Bay, California, has been a great help to the ministry. Begun as a church plant in 2007, the facilities were completed debt-free in 2021. The active church, for which Pastor Doug serves as senior pastor, partners with Amazing Facts in local outreach and hosts regular summits on various biblical topics. These series, such as The Glory of the Cross, are filmed in the media-equipped church and broadcast globally.

Worldwide Impact

The Batchelors have traveled extensively to spread the gospel since joining Amazing Facts. “I’ve preached in at least 30 countries since I’ve been here,” says Pastor Doug. “It’s such a wonderful thing to see people’s lives changed through the gospel.”

Adds Karen, “We’ve been blessed to travel to so many places and meet so many wonderful people. Our trip to Papua New Guinea several years ago was especially memorable. About 80,000 people gathered for Doug’s preaching. It was amazing to see their hunger for truth. They stood in the rain for hours to listen to God’s Word.”

That spiritual hunger is increasingly mirrored in people all around the world. One of our viewers, Yasmin, says, “I love listening to Pastor Doug preach! I was rebaptized thanks to watching your programs. You inspire me with the work you do. Our Lord is coming soon, and we must tell the world!”

Pastor Doug and Karen feel deeply responsible for sharing the gospel in the roles God has entrusted them. “Amazing Facts strives to be genuinely true to the Bible,” Karen reflects. “That encourages us to be faithful as His witnesses. It has been a very humbling experience for us.”

Pastor Doug puts it simply. “God must have been desperate to choose me.” 

Thank you, Pastor Doug and Karen Batchelor, for 30 years of faithful service to Amazing Facts. Your dedication and service have touched countless souls for the kingdom!

Since hip-hop first got its start in 1973, two cities were the main players in driving its style and sound. On the East Coast there was New York, and on the West Coast there was L.A. Atlanta is now home to many of hip-hop’s current and former stars, making it the “third coast” in A3C’s “All Three Coasts” moniker. As the East Coast-West Coast rivalry came to a head in 1995, a duo from Atlanta named OutKast managed to win Best New Rap Group at the Source Awards. While the New York-heavy crowd booed, Andre 3000 grabbed the award and took the audience to task. “I’m tired of folks, you know what I’m saying. The close-minded folks. It’s like we got a demo tape and don’t nobody want to hear it. But it’s like this: The South got something to say, that’s all I got to say.” Hip-hop made its way in Atlanta before then, with artists like Kilo Ali, MC Shy-D and Raheem the Dream producing their own take on popular Miami bass music. And Arrested Development even won two Grammys in 1993 for their song

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The Safe Harbor Act is one of the four amendments Georgians will be voting on in next Tuesday's election. If it passes, the state will impose additional fees on those convicted of certain sex trafficking crimes, as well as adult entertainment establishments. That money will fund treatment and resources for victims of child sex trafficking.

We may think about food all the time, but when is the last time you thought about what your food sounded like?

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Featured candidates are Peter Aman, Keisha Bottoms, Vincent Fort, Kwanza Hall, Ceasar Mitchell, Mary Norwood, Michael Sterling, and Cathy Woolard. Moderated by Rickey Bevington of Georgia Public Broadcasting and Denis O’Hayer of Atlanta Public Broadcasting. Recorded January 25, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta’s creative output is impressive. The metro region has 492 registered arts organizations from museums and galleries to movie theaters to furniture makers. Statewide, the annual revenue of arts organizations is nearly $800 million. To learn more about how arts influence the daily lives of Atlantans, Rickey Bevington speaks with Susannah Darrow, Executive Director of Arts ATL , a nonprofit publication providing arts criticism and coverage.