Greetings and welcome to the Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 edition of Denison Forum's Daily Article Podcast.

I'm Chris Elkins, narrator. Today's daily article is authored by Chief Vision Officer and co-founder Dr. Jim Denison.

In April 2025, Pastor William Seanman of New River Bible Church in Arizona was found

dead inside his home. His arms were outstretched and his hands pinned to a wall in a position

authorities described as resembling a crucifixion. Authorities later said the killing was part of a larger plot to target multiple

Christian leaders. Last week, the man accused of killing the pastor asked a court to sentence him

to death. He stated, quote, it's an indisputable fact that the crime was heinous in nature. I

intended it to be heinous, end quote." He allegedly intended to target 14 pastors or priests

across the U.S. Investigators say the victim was chosen because of his Christian faith. Our faith

does not exempt us from living in a fallen world. A fact my dear friends in Cuba are experiencing

as the power crisis gripping their nation continues

to worsen. Believers are as affected by severe weather across the U.S. this week as anyone

else. Christians are as endangered as others who also live in Iran, Israel, or any of the other

26 places identified by the Council on Foreign Relations as a global conflict site.

But when we suffer because we are believers,

can especially question the reality and relevance of our faith.

It feels grossly unfair for God to call us to follow and serve him,

then allow us to be persecuted for obeying his call. However, it's

also such suffering that affords us an opportunity to know and honor our Lord in ways we cannot

otherwise. During times of crisis, we sometimes feel the absence of God's presence.

In C.S. Lewis's A Grief observed, he reflected on the death of his wife, Joy Davidman,

to cancer at the age of 45.

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