Here’s a roundup of some sunny news.

Ex-terrorist Taysir “Tass” Abu Saada, author of Once an Arafat Man and The Mind of Terror and founder of the Hope of Peace Foundation, told CBN News, “many Muslims are looking for an alternative to Islam” and God has a purpose in the present pain and destruction to get Gazans to “wake up.” He confirmed an encouraging report from late last year:

“I have a report from one of my team members that 200 Gazans gave their heart to Jesus in one lump sum,” Saada told CBN. “The Lord appeared to them in visions and dreams and they were hugging each other and rejoicing. [They] realized all of them had the same vision that each one of them had.”

Michael Licona, professor of New testament studies at Houston Christian University, shared this inspiring report back in November from “underground Christian ministries”:

Praise the Lord that He is revealing himself to Muslims in Gaza!

March for Life 2024

This Friday saw thousands marching for 51st National Pro-Life March in Washington D.C.

Here’s a pretty time lapse of the march:

Are these chants a tearjerker for anyone else?

"Pro-choice that's a lie, babies never choose to die!"

A group of pro-lifer's at the March for Life. #WhyWeMarch #ewtnprolife pic.twitter.com/kgtMMfBxzA

— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) January 19, 2024

Thousands of pro-lifers chanting “let their hearts beat” outside of the United States Capitol pic.twitter.com/bu41RqCpZJ

— Anna Lulis (@annamlulis) January 19, 2024

I love how the pro-life movement brings together believers with various theological differences. I’ve learned to be deeply grateful for Catholic teaching on life and the theology of the body, as Catholics have historically kept up the pro-life banner when many Protestants were lulled by the ways of the world on abortion.

Thousands of pro-lifers will March for Life on January 19 in Washington DC. pic.twitter.com/SRoAb9L5EJ

— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) January 18, 2024

Pray for a Beating Heart

As marchers chanted about protecting babies with heartbeats, one little baby’s parents are pleading for prayers that their baby’s heart will beat strongly. Mark Joubert shared on X that his infant son Gus had a heart transplant, but the donor heart wasn’t beating. He asked for prayers.

We've had bad news. After a successful transplant, our son's donor heart has not started beating. He will transition to ECMO (heart bypass machine) for a couple days in hopes that it begins to beat. Otherwise, he will pass away. Please pray for us all. May the Lord be glorified. pic.twitter.com/MGMyTY2oiQ

— Mark E. Joubert (@mark_joubert) January 17, 2024

The last 24 hours have been, by far, the hardest & most painful of our lives. With great angst, we plead for a heartbeat. Time has not run out, but it is short. Only our Great Shepherd can lead us through this valley of the shadow of death. We wait on him. May he be glorified. pic.twitter.com/kaVLsb00Vr

— Mark E. Joubert (@mark_joubert) January 17, 2024

But now, the baby boy’s transplant heart has begun to beat, albeit weakly.

Gus had a stable night. He shed a lot of fluid overnight (kidneys doing well!) so he looks better. His nurses & doctors are impressed with his progress. His new heart continues to beat — not yet a full, self-sufficient beat, but it's holding strong. God is so kind. Keep praying! pic.twitter.com/uU7qroCLds

— Mark E. Joubert (@mark_joubert) January 19, 2024

Hello friends. Happy Lord's Day! Here's an update on how Gus is doing today:

Over the last 12 hours, we've struggled managing his blood pressure while on ECMO. It could be any number of things: fluid balance, his heart actually improving against ECMO, not getting good sleep… pic.twitter.com/uvIG7T6MMC

— Mark E. Joubert (@mark_joubert) January 21, 2024

Please join Mark and his family in praying for baby Gus’ heart to beat strongly so that he may live.

 

Aliya Kuykendall is a staff writer and proofreader for The Stream. You can follow Aliya on X @AliyaKuykendall and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.