Christian School Educators Rate Student Mental Health Positively

A new report  released by Cardus in  partnership with the Association  of Christian Schools International and the School Counseling Mental Health  Initiative at Denver Seminary found that most Christian  SCHOOL EDUCATORS SURVEYED  RATED STUDENT  MENTAL HEALTH  FAVORABLY, even as national concerns about youth well--being continue to grow.

The  report,  titled "Mental Health and Well--Being in Christian Schools,"surveyed more than 1,400 Christian educators across the U.S. in late 2024. It examined perceptions of student  wellness, educator well--being, and school practices related  to mental health.

According  to the findings, 80% of respondents rated the overall mental health students at their schools as "good" or "excellent." 

Dr. Lynn E. Swaner, president pf Cardus U.S.,  said results were encouraging but should  prompt further study.

Researchers also found a strong  relationship between  educator well--being and perceptions  of student mental health,  suggesting that staff wellness may  play a key role in  student outcomes.

U.S. Strikes IS in Nigeria for Killing Christians

 The U.S. military has conducted airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in Nigeria over the violent  targeting of Christians, the Christian Today website reports today (Feb. 22, 2026).

The strikes were carried out in northwestern Nigeria on Christmas day.

Christmas has become a tense time  of year for Christians across Nigeria's central and northern states due to the threat of attacks by Islamist exrtremists.

The strikes targeted two IS camps in Sokoto State. The strikes involved missiles and drones, and were baSED ON  SHARED INTELLIGENCE.The  U.S. military's Africa Command said on X that they took place "in coordination  with Nigerian authorities."

President Donald Trump publicly announced the  operation on his Truth Social platform and said it was a response to ongoing attacks by IS--linked militants against Christian communities in Nigeria.

"Tonight,  at my direction as commander in chief,  the United States launched a powerful  and deadly  strike  against ISIS terrorist scum in northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing --primarily innocent Christians -- at levels not seen  for years, and even centuries,"Trump said.

Pope Leo Declines to Join Trump's Board of Peace

 Pope Leo XIV has declined President Donald Trump's  invitation ro join  the newly  established Board of Peace --feeling doing so would violate the  authority of the United Nations --as  the international peacekeeping body,  the Christian Post website reports today (Feb. 20, 2026).

While speaking to reporters on Feb.17, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin announced that the  Vatican "will not participate in the  Board of Peace because of its particular nature, which is not that  of other States."Parolin elaborated on the Vatican's concerns about the Board of Peace.

"There are points that leave us somewhat perplexed," Parolin said."There are some critical points that would need to find explanations."

"At the international level,it should above all be  the UN that manages these crises situations," he said. "This is one of the points on which we have insisted."

Other sovereign  states that have declined Trump's invitation to join the Board of Peace include  Denmark, France, Norway, Slovenia, and Sweden. A TOTAL OF 62 NATIONS HAVE BEEN  INVITED TO JOIN THE INTERNATIONAL BODY. 

The Board of Peace was officially  unveiled last month at the  World Economic  Forum in  Switzerland. Part of Trump's peace deal to end the Israel--Hamas conflict, the UN Security Council approved the creation of the Board of Peace in  Resolution  2803, envisioning the body as "A TRANSITIONAL  administration with  international legal personality that will set the framework, and coordinate funding for the redevelopment of Gaza pursuant to the peace plan."

The war in Gaza Strip began after Hamas' Oct. 7,2023 terror attack on  civilian  and military targets in  southern  Israel, which prompted an Israeli military offensive to eradicate Hamas and secure the release of hostages.

The charter of the Board of Peace says it seeks to "promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance,and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict."

8 Skiers Killed in Deadliest Avalanche in Calif. History

Eight skiers were killed on Feb. 17 in a massive avalanche near Lake Tahoe, marking the deadliest avalanche in California's recorded history. the USA Today website reports today (Feb. 19, 2026).

The avalanche struck late Tuesday morning in the Castle Peak area of the Sierra Nevada, norrthwest of  Lake Tahoe. A group of 15 skiers on a multi--day back--country trip  was caught in the slide, which witnesses described as fast--moving and overwhelming.  

The avalanche occurred around 11:30 a.m. , sweeping skiers down the mountainside and burying several under deep snow and debris.

One skier remains missing, with officials stating the individual is presumed deceased.

Six skiers survived, with some injuries requiring hospitalization.

Officials noted that the victims had "little time to react"once the slide began. 

This event is considered the deadliest avalanche in  Calif. history. It is also the deadliest avalanche in the  U.S. since 1981, when  11 climbers were killed on  Mount Rainier.

Putin Uses Russian Orthodox Church to Control Rel. Life

 Russia, under President Vladmir Putin, is increasingly using the Russian Orthodox Church as a tool to control religious life, limit dissent, and expel state influence, both inside and outside the country, the Christian Daily  website reports today (Feb. 16, 2026). 

The Kremlin and the Church are deeply intertwined. Putin presents the Russian Orthodox Church as the guardian of "traditional values" and Russian identity. 

This partnership gives the Church privileged status, while minority Christian groups and other faiths face restrictions. 

Groups facing pressure include: Evangelical Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses,  Muslims, Independent Orthodox communities not aligned  with the Moscow Patriarchate.

These groups are often labeled "extremist" or "foreign agents."

Love Is a Choice We Need to Make

God commands us to live one another, the Crossmap website reports today (Feb. 18, 2026).

We need to love those who love us back. These are kind,  caring,and compassionate people.

But what about that co--worker who always complains and puts you  down? What about the spouse who  cheated on you or lied about where they'd been for the last 24 hours? What about the neighbor who does nothing  but  cause chaos in your town?Is it easy to love them?

The short and truthful answer is no. It's not easy to love those who  don't treat you with love and respect. And yet, God calls us  to love and do good to all people, and that includes those  who have and will continue to hurt you.

In John 13, Jesus tells us that we are called to love one another, just as He loved us. If we are truly His Disciples, then we love without cause. Why?  Because Jesus loved us to  death. While we were still sinners, spitting in His face, cursing Him, and crucifying His body, He looked down on us with love. He chose to die for us because  of His  great, sacrificial,eternal, and never--ending love.