Could all my brothers and sisters in Christ offer up a prayer for my family and I. I have every intention to sit and respond to each one of my brothers that has reached out to me in the past but I run out of day. I run out of energy to stay awake. The other day I feel to sleep with my phone in the middle of a email. We are trying to fix our church after two back to back typhoons and flooding. We are trying to run a school feeding program. We are trying to farm and build our home. We are trying to get a working car again. We are trying to meet the promises and obligations I have made to the church. However, I always feel I run out of time and day. I understand what Christ said "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" Please pray for my health, my clarity of mind and the ability to share the gospels fearlessly.

Love you all my brothers and sisters in Christ

We recently had as bad weather causing water damage to our churches Pastors room and office. I don't know if this is allowed but we are needing help. I can't raise the money alone to make the repairs and the things going on in the United States has locked up all financial assistance to small churches here in the Philippines.

I am asking for help to fix our roofs, the water damage and to medigate the mold. I understand money is hard to come up with and I am not asking for you all to give until it hurts. A lot of small amounts make a big difference. I have already offered to donated 10,000 pesos, or $175 USD. But it looks like we are needing 90,000 pesos more.

Anything you give will be a blessing and all leftover funds will be use to share the gospels of Jesus Christ.

Below is my churches PayPal information. If anyone has questions or concerns please reach out to me. As you have a right to ask questions.

God bless you all.

Paypal Account
Username: @JCWMCSj
Account name: Shirly Pablo

Title: The Inflation Deception: A Biblical Perspective on the Economic Manipulation of 2021–2025

By: Arakel Akashay Mikaelian III
Independent Free Press
09/02/2025

Greed and Deception: Inflation as a Tool of the Powerful

“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”-1 Timothy 6:10

From 2021 to 2025, the official U.S. inflation rate hovered around 2.7%. Yet for the average citizen, the cost of living, especially housing, food, and healthcare, soared by nearly 20%. This gap reflects more than miscalculation; it reveals a systemic deception benefiting the wealthy and powerful at the expense of the vulnerable, echoing biblical warnings about exploiting the poor and needy-Proverbs 22:22–23.

The Collusion of Elites: World Governments and Corporations

Post 2008, central banks such as the U.S. Federal Reserve implemented quantitative easing and near-zero interest rates. While these policies stabilized markets, they disproportionately favored the rich, inflating asset prices and widening inequality. In the biblical lens, this mirrors the oppression of the widows and orphans through greed-Isaiah 10:1–2.

Major corporations exploited supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions to raise prices, squeezing ordinary people further. Scripture warns: “Woe to those who join house to house, who add field to field, until there is no room, and you live alone in the midst of the land”-Isaiah 5:8.

Division Among the People

The engineered inflation deepened political and social divides. The Bible cautions against sowing discord: “A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city”-Proverbs 18:19. Wealth manipulation, combined with political strategies, has fractured communities, pitting neighbor against neighbor and feeding anger and mistrust among citizens.

The 2016 Election: Seeking Justice and Accountability

Many Americans felt the government had abandoned justice, fairness, and transparency, core biblical principles. Donald Trump’s election in 2016 reflected the collective cry of the people for a ruler who would challenge the establishment, echoing Proverbs 29:2-“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”

A Spiritual Question for Reflection

Did the 2020 election and the subsequent Biden administration provide a cover for the concealment of critical evidence of economic manipulation? Could it be that the powers orchestrating global inflation were working unseen, fulfilling the warning in Luke 12:2-“Nothing is covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known”?

The Scripture reminds us that even when the wicked prosper temporarily, God’s justice will ultimately prevail. As the psalmist writes: “Do not fret because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb”-Psalm 37:1–2.

Global Impact: Nations and Accountability

The repercussions of these economic policies extend beyond U.S. borders. Rising prices, social unrest, and political instability around the world highlight the consequences of nations walking away from righteousness and justice. Proverbs 14:34 states: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”

The Moral Lesson: Accountability, Stewardship, and Faith

The biblical lens frames this crisis not just as an economic failure but as a spiritual and moral challenge. Leaders entrusted with stewardship of resources have a divine obligation to act justly-Micah 6:8. Citizens are called to discern, pray for wisdom, and pursue justice, while being cautious of manipulation, deception, and greed in their leaders.

Conclusion: Faith, Truth, and Justice

The inflationary trends from 2021 to 2025 illustrate a world where greed and deception flourished under the guise of economic necessity. Yet Scripture reminds us that God sees all and justice will prevail-Ecclesiastes 12:14. The faithful are called to vigilance, discernment, and advocacy for the vulnerable, trusting that even in times of financial and moral crisis, divine justice will ultimately triumph over the schemes of the powerful.

I am a theology and pastoral student from the United States but currently in the Philippines with my family.

I would love to come to Africa and see the country, meet it's people, and help others mentally, emotionally, lovingly, and spiritually.

I don't know anything about Africa, or it's culture and customs. This has made things hard for me here in the Philippines at times. In the United States making a funny face is okay. Here to causes offense to others.

I have always seen myself in Africa preaching the gospels and I know you don't need another self-righteous religious missionary thinking they are coming to save Africa. This isn't it! Honestly I see a revival coming that will reignite the heart, mind and body. I see the world being set on fire through the power of the Holy Spirit and the counties and continents that I believe will pay a key roll in this is China, Philippines, Africa. The United States, my country will come back to Christ but they haven't been called yet to be the leaders of the new revival.

I am a simple man. God knows I need food, a bed, and ears that are willing to listen to the Gospels, not my translation of them but the actual Gospels without alterations.

All are welcome to contact me and share with me your mission and let's see if we can work together to bring more people to Christ.

God bless you all.

Editorial: The Strike That Could Stall Our Skies – A Biblical Call for Wisdom in Defense

By Arakel Akashay Mikaelian III Independent Free Press
August 4, 2025

This week’s strike by 3,200 Boeing defense workers in St. Louis, Missouri, is more than a labor dispute, it is a warning sign for a nation that has allowed profit, entitlement, and shortsightedness to compromise its security. Scripture reminds us: “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand” Mark 3:25, NIV. When those entrusted with building the very weapons that keep America safe walk away over demands that far exceed fairness, division undermines national defense.

Entitlement in the Face of Provision

Boeing offered workers a 20% base wage increase, a $5,000 bonus, and total wage growth exceeding 40%. This would raise average yearly wages from $75,000 to more than $102,000, well above the national average income of under $60,000. Yet the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers rejected the offer, citing “respect” and “scheduling issues.”

The Bible warns against greed and discontent: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have” Hebrews 13:5, NIV. Demanding more, even after abundant provision, reflects not justice but excess. And when such demands cripple national readiness, it becomes not just a labor issue but a moral one.

Defense Delays = National Decay

These workers are responsible for building the F-15, F/A-18, MQ-25 Stingray, and the new F-47 stealth fighter, aircraft essential to deterring war with China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Yet production is now halted. Drones delayed. Contracts frozen. The Pentagon left scrambling.

Ecclesiastes 3:8 tells us, “a time for war and a time for peace” NIV. But peace is only secured when a nation is prepared for war. A strike that jeopardizes air superiority does not merely inconvenience, it endangers. Foreign adversaries are not pausing while America negotiates wages.

Union Overreach in Times of Testing

Scripture commands, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves” Philippians 2:3, NIV. Yet this strike places personal demands above the security of 330 million citizens. To reject an unprecedented raise when others in the nation earn far less, all while halting defense production, is a misuse of power.

Boeing is not the enemy here. They are a subcontractor working under strict defense contracts. When costs rise, taxpayers carry the burden. In this light, the strike resembles not justice but entitlement, and entitlement, when left unchecked, weakens nations.

Should the Military Build Its Own Aircraft?

Here lies the deeper question: Why does America’s defense rely entirely on private corporations, vulnerable to strikes, profit motives, and even cyberattacks?

In World War II, the U.S. military operated its own plants and built over 300,000 aircraft in less than five years. That efficiency, driven by duty and patriotism, is hard to imagine in today’s corporate climate of stock buybacks and labor disputes. Rebuilding government run aircraft manufacturing would be costly, between $20 and $40 billion. But consider: a single F-22 costs $350 million. For the price of a dozen jets, America could reestablish sovereign control over its entire defense pipeline.

The principle is biblical: “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty” Proverbs 27:12, NIV. Continuing to depend on corporations leaves America exposed. Building sovereign infrastructure is costly upfront, but far less costly than losing security altogether.

Sovereignty Begins on the Assembly Line

Today, a strike can delay everything. A cyberattack can compromise everything. A budget dispute can freeze everything. The Bible says, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3, NIV. The foundation of American defense is not the jets themselves but the system that builds them. Lose that, and you lose the power to defend freedom.

If soldiers, engineers, and trained personnel built these aircraft in secure, military run facilities, there would be no strikes, no subcontractor delays, no leaks, and no excuses. Yes, the startup costs are great. But the long term value is measured in sovereignty and uninterrupted strength.

Final Word

This moment is not about paychecks and paperwork. It is about whether America’s defense is controlled by unions, corporations, or the military itself.

The union’s rejection of Boeing’s generous offer should serve as a wake-up call. It is time for Washington to reconsider the wisdom of relying solely on private companies for critical defense production. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people” Proverbs 14:34, NIV. If America continues to allow entitlement and profit motives to govern its defense industry, it risks condemnation by its own choices.

Editorial: Cutting Intelligence or Cutting Corners? A Nation Weighs the Risks of Reform

By Arakel Akashay Mikaelian III
Independent Free Press

On August 20, 2025, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced one of the most sweeping changes to America’s intelligence structure in two decades. Her plan: cut the ODNI workforce by over 40% before October 1, dissolving entire centers and consolidating missions. She claims the reforms will save taxpayers $700 million annually and restore trust in an institution she says has grown bloated, politicized, and abusive.

The announcement raises both hope and alarm. Some hail it as pruning dead branches; others warn it risks cutting into the living root of America’s security. Scripture reminds us: “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” Proverbs 27:12, NIV. Prudence is needed before wielding the axe.

What Is Being Cut, and Why?

Entire offices are being dissolved: the Foreign Malign Influence Center, the Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center, the National Counterproliferation and Biosecurity Center, the External Research Council, and the Strategic Futures Group. Their duties will be absorbed into other bodies.

Gabbard calls them redundant or politically skewed. Supporters argue this is stewardship: “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” Romans 14:12, NIV. Leaders must answer for wasted resources and duplicative bureaucracy.

But critics warn these cuts may also strip away needed vigilance against foreign influence, cyber threats, and biological dangers. As Jesus taught: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” Luke 14:28, NIV. To begin a reform without counting the full cost is to risk collapse midway.

Savings or Illusion?

The ODNI claims $700 million in recurring savings, perhaps $1 billion if ripple effects are counted. Yet history shows that “paper savings” often fail to materialize once reorganization brings hidden costs. Scripture counsels: “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” Proverbs 13:11, NIV. True stewardship is not about dramatic claims, but steady, faithful management.

Reactions: Optimism and Concern

Sen. Tom Cotton praises the reform as a return to ODNI’s proper mission. Others, like Sen. Mark Warner, warn that dissolving cyber and disinformation offices leaves America blind in key areas. And the revocation of 37 security clearances including seasoned experts, has raised fears of political purges.

Here we must recall: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22, NIV. A wise reform consults broadly and protects knowledge bearers, rather than casting them aside.

Balancing Efficiency and Security

Efficiency has virtue: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31, NIV. Stewarding taxpayer dollars well honors the people who provide them.

Yet efficiency must never come at the expense of vigilance. If critical expertise is stripped away, the U.S. risks being unprepared for threats that grow in silence. For “if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?” 1 Corinthians 14:8, NIV.

The Bottom Line

Tulsi Gabbard’s reform represents a bold attempt to prune and purify the intelligence community. It may restore trust, or it may cut too deep. The truth will be revealed not in press releases but in whether America remains both safe and free.

The public must ask: Is this stewardship, or shortsightedness? Prudence or pride? The Word instructs us: “Test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22, NIV.

In the end, the measure of reform is not the money saved, but whether justice, security, and truth are preserved. Anything less is merely cutting corners.

Editorial: U.S. Confrontation with Venezuela — Justice, Power, and the Call for Wisdom

By Arakel Akashay Mikaelian III
Independent Free Press

The United States has moved naval assets into the Caribbean and deployed over 4,000 Marines in response to claims that Venezuela’s government under Nicolás Maduro has enabled or supported narcotics trafficking into the U.S. Washington frames this not merely as crime, but as an active attack on national security.

Escalation and a Shift in Strategy

Scripture reminds us: “There is a time for war and a time for peace” Ecclesiastes 3:8, NIV. For years, talk of regime change in Venezuela centered on internal opposition or economic pressure. Today’s reality is different: U.S. military power positioned directly against Venezuelan leadership, under the banner of counter-narcotics and counter terrorism.

This shift reflects a willingness to use force rather than waiting for gradual collapse. Yet the Word cautions: “Suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?” Luke 14:31, NIV. Nations must weigh not only their capacity for war, but also its consequences.

Accountability and Sovereignty

The U.S. argues that Venezuela’s actions amount to state sponsored aggression. If true, leaders are accountable not only to human courts, but to God Himself: “For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.” Romans 13:3, NIV.

Yet accountability must be pursued with wisdom. Proverbs warns, “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” Proverbs 12:15, NIV. International law provides frameworks for self defense, but stretching those definitions risks alienating allies and sowing instability.

The Costs of Confrontation

The U.S. Navy can enforce blockades, intercept vessels, and project overwhelming force. But Scripture reminds us: “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.” Psalm 33:16, NIV. Military might can achieve swift victories, but asymmetric resistance, urban warfare, and prolonged unrest may follow.

Diplomatic fallout is also certain. Some nations may support Washington, while others remain neutral or accuse it of overreach. Meanwhile, Russia, Iran, and China may use the crisis to strengthen their opposition to U.S. influence, even without direct military involvement.

The Road Ahead

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9, NIV. Peace is not passivity, it is the active pursuit of resolution that upholds justice without unleashing unnecessary suffering.

The U.S. faces a choice: whether to pursue accountability through measured restraint or to escalate toward a conflict that could destabilize the region for years. Scripture offers a clear standard: “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” Proverbs 21:3, NIV.

The Bottom Line

The confrontation with Venezuela sets a precedent, framing narcotics trafficking by a government as an act of war. History will judge whether this delivers stability or deepens instability.

But let us remember: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22, NIV. The path forward requires wisdom, accountability, and restraint.

Power without justice is oppression. Justice without mercy is cruelty. Only when both meet under God’s standard can nations find a path that leads to peace.

Shackles for a Fruit Cup: Justice Without Mercy

By Arakel Akashay Mikaelian III
Independent Free Press

The prophet Micah declared: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8, NIV.

Measured against that standard, the case of James Denison, a 19 year old autistic deli worker arrested over about $110 of food eaten during shifts at Meijer in Seven Hills, Ohio, shows how far a billion dollar company, local management, and law enforcement strayed from biblical justice.

The Weight of the Law vs. the Spirit of the Law

Ohio law labels this “petty theft,” a misdemeanor for amounts under $1,000. But the spirit of justice requires discernment. Paul writes, “I have the right to do anything,” you say, but not everything is beneficial. 1 Corinthians 6:12, NIV. In other words, not every act that can be prosecuted should be.

Discretion exists for a reason: to separate what promotes justice from what merely enforces punishment. Scripture reminds us that, “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6, NIV.

Corporate Stewardship and Hypocrisy

Meijer boasts of community stewardship, yet stewardship starts in the break room. James was treated as a criminal for food worth less than a penny of Meijer’s $22 billion revenue. Proverbs teaches, “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” Proverbs 14:31, NIV.

When a corporation profits in the billions but cannot prevent its own vulnerable employees from being arrested over discarded food, its stewardship is performative, not biblical.

Management by Snare, Not Shepherding

Reports say a manager kept a tally until the food consumed reached $100 before calling police. That is not accountability, it is entrapment. Jesus condemned such hardness of heart: “You give a tenth of your spices, mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law, justice, mercy and faithfulness.” Matthew 23:23, NIV.

Leadership should shepherd with compassion, not set traps for subordinates.

The Role of Authority: Mercy First

Romans reminds us that authority exists to serve good: “For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good.” Romans 13:4, NIV. Authority becomes abuse when mercy is ignored and humiliation is chosen.

Jesus Himself declared, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’” Matthew 9:13, NIV. Mercy was the path available, but it was abandoned for shackles.

What Must Be Done

Meijer must adopt humane policies for food-related employee issues, warnings, repayment, and disability accommodations, not arrests.

Management should remove leaders who weaponize rules against vulnerable workers and retrain supervisors in both compassion and ADA aware practices.

Law enforcement and prosecutors should exercise discretion consistent with public interest, dismissing or diverting cases rooted in hunger, not harm.

The Greater Lesson

This is not about a fruit cup. It is about whether power is exercised with mercy or without it. “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” Proverbs 21:3, NIV.

If Meijer wants to be a true pillar of the community, it should begin by applying Proverbs 31:9 NIV: “Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Until compassion governs policy, every claim of stewardship will ring hollow.

I am currently in the Philippines volunteering with Jesus Christ World Mission Church. I am also attending P.R.C. in La Union to get my degree in Theology and pastoral studies. I came here to volunteer in a medical mission and a school feeding program at 4 of the local schools here. Unfortunately with the current state of the world I haven't been able to find the appropriate funding to keep it going. I am still looking for assistance and my pastor is always looking for hands on assistance from other missionaries. If you feel like you could help here reach out to Jesus Christ World Mission Church.