Data from Barna’s Discipleship in Community study highlights significant generational differences in how Christians feel about following Jesus and how they express and experience their faith.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Spiritual Fitness: How Long Does It Take to Read the Bible? ]
Each US military branch has a dedicated hymn to inspire singers to lift their voices in praise to God, honoring him as the creator of life and liberty:
[ Read the SemperVerus article, US Military Academy Prayers ]
Composed in 2020, the Space Force Hymn (Wikipedia) is the first military hymn written in 105 years. Its author, former Air Force Captain James F. Linzey, who retired as a chaplain from the Army, is the only living composer of a military hymn.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Spiritual Fitness in the USA Military ]
Each hymn’s stanzas are shown below, as is the NATO Hymn enhanced with sacred lyrics by Capt. Linzey. Originally written by Captain André Reichling of the Luxembourg Military Band in 1989 to commemorate NATO’s 40th anniversary, the hymn was officially adopted as an instrumental anthem in 2018. Now, Capt. Linzey’s sacred lyrics draw on Psalm 8 and George Frideric Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, bringing a spiritual dimension to NATO’s official music. Capt. Linzey says this rendition of the hymn and imagery are not in any way endorsed by NATO, nor are they official publications of NATO.
[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of SPIRITUAL FITNESS ]
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has issued its 2025 Annual Report of countries it considers to be the most egregious violators of religious liberty.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Terrorists Call for Attacks on Christians ]
The report’s recommendations begin with “the prompt appointment of an Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, who leads initiatives through the US Department of State to highlight and address religious freedom concerns around the world.” President Trump has nominated former North Carolina Congressman Mark Walker for that position. If confirmed by the Senate, as expected, Walker will be the seventh person to serve in this role.
MAGEN DAVID ADOM, Israel’s Red Cross, describes itself as the most experienced mass-casualty response organization in the world.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Church Security Training: Decision Decks Help You Think Through a Crisis Before It Happens ]
As Israel’s national ambulance, blood services, and disaster relief organization, the 30,000 mostly volunteer workers of Magen David Adom (Hebrew for “Red Star of David”) respond to 8 million calls a year.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, Understand the Times and Know What to Do ]
Because of the wars and repeated terrorist attacks against Israel, the non-profit agency has emerged as a world leader in emergency medical services.
[ Read the SemperVerus article, A Directory of Medical Kit Resources ]
American Friends of Magen David Adom has created the Church Emergency Response Network to enable its EMTs and paramedics to share with pastors, church leaders, and houses-of-worship security/safety teams the many lessons they’ve learned through assassin onslaughts, criminal assaults, natural disasters, auto accidents, physical maladies, and more.